Government Moves to Amend Destination Management Fee Law

Turks and Caicos, March 30, 2026 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government has signaled changes to its tourism funding framework, with Cabinet approving draft amendments to the Destination Management Fee Act 2023.

The decision was confirmed in the Post Cabinet statement following the February 5 meeting, chaired by Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, where members agreed to move forward with revisions to the law governing the collection and administration of the fee.

The Destination Management Fee, introduced in 2023, is applied to travelers entering the country and is embedded within the cost of travel. The charge was designed to support tourism-related development, including marketing, infrastructure, and sustainability initiatives.

At the time of its introduction, the fee was linked to the establishment of a Destination Management and Marketing Organisation (DMMO), which was expected to coordinate tourism strategy and enhance the visitor experience.

However, recent developments have shifted that landscape.

The DMMO has since been discontinued, raising new questions about how funds generated through the fee are being managed and what structure will now guide tourism development efforts.

The Cabinet note does not outline what specific changes are being proposed under the amended legislation.

It also does not indicate whether adjustments will be made to:

• who pays the fee,
• how it is collected, or
• how the revenue is allocated and overseen.

The move to amend the law comes amid broader government efforts to strengthen revenue collection and compliance, including updates provided to Cabinet on the work of the Drag-Net Steering Committee — a multi-agency initiative focused on improving government revenue systems.

The lack of detail surrounding the amendments leaves several key questions unanswered, particularly given the fee’s direct impact on both visitors and residents and its role in supporting the country’s tourism economy.

Any changes to the Act would require further legislative steps, including presentation to the House of Assembly, before taking effect.

For now, the Cabinet’s approval signals that the government is moving to revise a policy that is already in force — but without yet disclosing how those revisions will alter the current system.

As tourism remains the backbone of the Turks and Caicos Islands economy, clarity on the future of the Destination Management Fee — and the framework it supports — is expected to be closely watched in the weeks ahead.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

Photo Credit: TCIAA