TCI News
Turks and Caicos Islands Join Global Leaders in Fiji to Champion Regenerative Tourism
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (August 26th, 2025) – The Turks and Caicos Islands joined global sustainability leaders, policymakers, and tourism experts at the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Training and Conference 2025, held from August 2nd to 9th at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, Denarau Island, Fiji.
The landmark gathering focused on advancing regenerative and resilient tourism models, particularly for small island states which face
unique challenges such as climate change, ecosystem fragility, and economic dependence on tourism.
The GSTC2025 programme unfolded in three distinct phases: in-depth training sessions on the GSTC Criteria and best practices in cultural heritage preservation, destination stewardship, and environmental protection; a conference featuring keynotes, panels, and workshops with international experts, industry leaders, and representatives from Small Island Developing States (SIDS); and cultural celebrations that showcased Fiji’s rich heritage through music, dance, crafts, and cuisine—highlighting the inextricable link between culture, stewardship, and tourism.
Representing the Turks and Caicos Islands were Mr. Courtney Robinson, Strategic Development Manager, Experience Turks and Caicos alongside Mrs. Jasmine Thomas, Executive Director of the Turks and Caicos National Trust, and Ms. Claudia Munnings, Chair of the National Trust Board. The delegation actively contributed to global knowledge-sharing sessions, presenting the country’s progress in ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, heritage site management, and community engagement. The TCI team also gained insights from other island nations on strategies for climate adaptation, policy alignment, and safeguarding cultural identity.
Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos, said The Turks and Caicos Islands’ presence at the GSTC 2025 Conference is an important step in affirming our commitment to sustainability and resilience.
“As a small island destination, we are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and environmental pressures. Participating in
this global dialogue allows us not only to share our progress in biodiversity conservation, heritage preservation, and community engagement, but also to learn from other nations facing similar challenges. This exchange of knowledge ensures that Turks and Caicos continues to grow as a world-class destination while safeguarding the natural and cultural treasures that define who we are,” he said.
Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Robinson, said: “The GSTC2025 conference was a powerful reminder that sustainability is not a choice but a necessity for islands like the Turks and Caicos. We learnt that collective stewardship, cultural authenticity, and strong partnerships are not only critical to protecting what we have but also to positioning the TCI as a global leader in sustainable tourism. The lessons shared by our fellow island nations will be invaluable as we continue to shape a tourism sector that benefits both our people and our environment.”
Key takeaways from the conference, included the importance of collaboration among government which is key to sustainability, how partnerships across sectors amplify impact and help integrate environmental, cultural, and economic priorities; and how vital authentic cultural experiences are for tourism differentiation and community pride.
The insights from GSTC2025 underline several strategic directions for the islands, including reviewing and strengthening national tourism and environmental policies in line with GSTC standards, leveraging partnerships and funding to advance sustainable initiatives, embedding community voices in decision-making processes, and incorporating climate adaptation measures into tourism infrastructure and practices.
Almost two million visitors recorded in 2025
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – The Turks and Caicos Islands saw an increase in stayover arrivals in December, seven percent higher than the corresponding period in 2024.
Preliminary data suggests that stay over arrivals by air for the month of December was 66,427 in comparison to 62,610 in December 2024.
From January to December 2025, preliminary visitor arrival numbers totalled 640,754; on par with the number recorded for the same period of 2024.
Stay Over Arrivals YTD December 2024/2025
The first quarter of the calendar year attracted the largest number of arrivals with visitor arrivals three percent higher than the first quarter of 2024. Reduced airlift from the United Kingdom and the United States, most notably the Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue services, was however felt from the second quarter (April to June). As a result, visitor arrivals dropped three percent in the second quarter.
By the third quarter of this year (July to September), geopolitical and economic conditions in the key source markets, namely the United States, led to further contraction of arrivals. In the last quarter of 2025, arrivals were impacted in October due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa but additional airlift from the USA and Canada resulted in an increase in arrivals in November and December.
Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos, said December’s increase in stayover arrivals is an encouraging indicator of the sustained interest in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier destination.
“While we note and continue to monitor geopolitical shifts that affect us, Experience Turks and Caicos is focused on increasing marketing initiatives in our primary source markets. We have spent the last two years investing in groundwork such as crucial travel advisor training to assist them in selling the destination more effectively. In the next fiscal, we will be building on those initiatives with co-op activities with partners as well as out of home advertising to increase visitation to our destination,” he said.
In Cruise, the preliminary count of passenger arrivals for the month of December 2025 was 129,346, a 22 percent increase over last December. This growth follows the berthing of 11 additional ships in Grand Turk this month.
From January to December, the cruise sector continued to outperform the same period last year, as the 1.3 million total cruise passengers recorded, marks a five percent Year-on-Year increase. 
The cruise sector experienced significant growth in the first quarter of 2025, with passenger arrivals surpassing last quarter by 53 percent. In the second and third quarter however, several cruise lines adjusted their itineraries as vessels were pulled from the fleet or from the Caribbean region, which resulted in fewer passengers.
Arrivals dropped seven percent and 10 percent in the second and third quarters, respectively. Double digit growth was recorded in the last two months of Quarter 4. This growth however, was not sufficient to outweigh the drop in arrivals experienced in October, following the cancellation of cruise calls due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Despite the late-quarter rebound, arrivals for the final quarter of 2025 closed six percent below the same period in 2024.
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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 11 February 2026: The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) coordinated a multi-agency enforcement operation on Thursday, 29 January 2026, led by the Planning Department, with support from the Crown Land
Unit, the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, and security provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. The operation, carried out at three different locations in Providenciales, formed part of ongoing government efforts to address unauthorised development and illegal occupation of land in accordance with governing legislation.
The operation commenced in Blue Hills, where five Section 58 Enforcement Notices were issued on unauthorised structures identified on Block and Parcel 60502/48.
Enforcement activity then moved to a second location off the Leeward Highway near Caicos Lodge, where six Section 58 Enforcement Notices were issued on additional unauthorised structures on Block and Parcel 60802/66.
The final phase of the operation took place in The Bight, where three unauthorised structures were removed, with all debris cleared from the site in keeping with established safety and environmental protocols.
The Informal Settlements Unit remains committed to working alongside its partner agencies to support lawful development, protect public and private land, and ensure that planning regulations are enforced in a coordinated and transparent manner across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Similar joint operations will continue as part of the Government’s wider strategy to address unauthorised development and informal settlement activity.
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