Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
Grand Turk, TCI – Grand Turk is poised for a cruise tourism boost as Royal Caribbean vessels are set to begin making calls to the island, Minister of Tourism Zhavargo Jolly confirmed during the 2025-2026 National Budget Debate on Thursday. The move, developed in collaboration with Carnival Cruise Line, ensures sustained cruise traffic and economic vitality for the capital, even as some Carnival itineraries undergo temporary rescheduling.
The announcement comes as part of a broader strategy to reimagine tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands, led by the Ministry of Tourism and the evolving Experience Turks and Caicos (ETCI) agency.
“We are aggressively working to raise the visibility of Grand Turk as a premier cruise destination,” said Minister Jolly, addressing concerns about attractions and cultural offerings on the island. One recent initiative saw Grand Turk featured in an international cruise television series set to premiere this summer—another step toward global exposure.
In addition to welcoming new ships, the long-anticipated White Sands Beach Hotel redevelopment is finally moving forward. “The delay was due to three remaining strata unit owners holding out on the sale,” said Jolly, “but I’m proud to report that the issue has now been resolved.” A Request for Proposal will open within the next 30 days, ushering in what the minister called “real, meaningful investment in Grand Turk’s tourism future—led by vision, not circumstance.”
Throughout his presentation, Jolly emphasized that ETCI is no longer just a promotional tool. “Experience TCI is the cultural and product development hub of this country’s tourism strategy,” he said. The agency is rolling out training workshops, supporting local experience providers, and organizing community events that reflect the identity of the islands.
Looking abroad, the Ministry is working to expand TCI’s global reach through targeted route development negotiations with airlines in four priority markets: the West Coast of the United States, Central and South America, Europe, and the United Arab Emirates. “This work is critical to diversifying our visitor base, reducing market vulnerability, and positioning Turks and Caicos as a truly global destination,” Jolly noted.
Premier Charles Washington Misick also offered praise during the debate, thanking former Tourism Minister Josephine Connolly for her leadership during a record-breaking year. “Under her stewardship, we migrated from the Tourist Board to a modern marketing and management entity—Experience Turks and Caicos,” he said.
The Premier confirmed that 2 million visitors arrived by air and sea in 2024, cementing tourism’s role as the country’s economic engine. “We must choose quality and higher revenue over quantity and lower prices,” he cautioned, highlighting plans to increase both hotel room numbers and revenue per available room (RevPAR).
Tourism remains the single largest contributor to government revenue. Import duties and accommodation taxes each accounted for 25% of revenue—or roughly $132.4 million—while stamp duty from real estate transactions brought in another 10%, or $50 million. Altogether, tourism-linked revenue made up nearly 60% of national income.
The 2025-2026 national budget passed in the House of Assembly on Thursday, May 22.
