Turks and Caicos, September 12, 2024 – The Department of Tourism Regulations (DTR) would like to remind all property owners, accommodation providers, and operators within the tourism sector that conducting business without obtaining the appropriate license from the Department of Tourism Regulations violates our newly implemented regulations. Under our ordinance, offering rental accommodations to tourists without an accommodation license from the DTR is illegal.
It has come to our attention that there is some confusion regarding the licensing process, particularly among those who already hold a business license from the Revenue Department.
It is important to note that having a business license does not exempt property owners and managers from acquiring an accommodation license. The Department of Tourism Regulation’s role exceeds that of business registration. Our mandate is to assure that the quality, safety, and general standards mandated in our licensing guidelines are being met and maintained for all tourism rental properties in the TCI.
In summary
- All tourism accommodations (regardless of size) need both a tourism license and a business license to operate. Without them, you cannot legally operate a tourism accommodation rental property in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
- All rental accommodations must be inspected and certifiedby the Department of Tourism to meet the required standards.
- The Tourism Regulation and Licensing Ordinance 2023 came into effect in May 2024.However, those who are unaware of the changes mandated under this ordinance are still subject to regulation.
The Director of the Department of Tourism Regulations, Avi Adams, commented on the licensing requirements: “While we understand that it takes time for changes to take full effect, our stakeholders must stay informed about the evolving regulations in the tourism industry. We will continue to do our part and issue reminders and updates to ensure everyone remains aware of these developments. Our goal is not to issue fines or enforcement letters but to ensure compliance. We strongly encourage all operators to come in and complete their registration with us to avoid any penalties.”
The Department of Tourism Regulations would also like to encourage TIDES Ambassadors to come in to collect their TIDES cards and certificates at our offices. You can contact us at tourismregulations@gov.tc or by phone at +1 335 5349.
