TCI News
TCI: The Department of Sports rolls out “After School Sport Programmes” at sport facilities around the country!
#Providenciales, October 19, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Department of Sports is pleased to announce that as of October 15th we will be hosting After School Sports Programmes on the various Islands at our Sport facilities on Mondays – Thursdays 3:30pm – 5:00pm.
This generation of children spend more time indoors than any previous generation, hence there is a growing concern in the TCI regarding 
childhood obesity. This crisis has prompted the Department of Sports to provide additional time for children to engage in physical activities. Many parents are reluctant to allow their children to participate in after-school sports and other physical activities because of concerns about injuries and the challenge of balancing school, chores and sports.
While these are natural parental concerns when a child initially enters the sports world, experts agree that the benefits of sports far exceed any potential risks.
Sports Improves Fitness and Overall Health
Participation in sports reduces the risk for obesity and other serious issues like juvenile delinquency.
Studies demonstrate that sports improve a child’s academic performance, self-esteem and social competence. Sports participation bolsters children’s ability to solve problems and maintain normal weight. It also enhances physical coordination and strengthens muscles and bones.
Sports Teaches Children How to Manage Pressure
Becoming an athlete requires a child to perform tough tasks under difficult circumstances. Playing sports help children learn how to stay focused while dealing with pressure. There is also evidence that children enrolled in sports programs are at a lower risk for dropping out of school, teen pregnancies and juvenile arrests.
Exercise Relieves Stress and Boost Self – Confidence
According to the American Psychological Association, the benefits of exercise transcend physical fitness. Exercise releases natural substances such as dopamine and serotonin that improve your child’s sense of well-being. Playing sports with friends is a fun way to alleviate stress associated with academic pressures.
Accomplishing important objectives in sports builds a child’s self-esteem. The competitive nature of sports places children in challenging situations that require ingenuity and perseverance.
Benefits of Healthy Competition, Sportsmanship and Teamwork
Sports education teaches children how to deal with issues like competition that they will encounter throughout their academic, personal and professional lives. Children learn how to compete and succeed by giving their best effort during friendly competition.
Playing sports teaches children how to share the responsibility and credit for the group’s performance. It also helps children learn how to be courteous whether they win or lose. Children experience positive emotions when teammates celebrate important milestones and victories.
Message from Minister for Health, Agriculture, Sport and Human Services, Hon. Edwin Astwood
“When it comes to healthy lifestyles for children and young people, I am a strong believer in the saying that, ” a little play goes a long way.” Therefore, I want to encourage parents throughout the TCI to get their young children involved in sporting activities and encourage the older children to do the same. Taking part in sports helps everyone to improve skills and maintain physical ability. Sporting activities are important for everyone as it keeps the body healthy and fit but it is especially important for kids and youths as it also improves their social well-being. There is a sport for just about all body types and fitness levels and different sports involve the use of different physical abilities. Some sports are geared towards speed, power and endurance while others are more about hand/eye coordination and concentration. Hence, there is a sport for everyone to participate and excel in. With this said, let us get all our children involved in sports, and let them reap the potential benefits of increased physical ability, increased mental power, and increased self-esteem.”
Sports Programme Locations
Providenciales – Gustarvus Lightbourne and Down Town Ball Park
South Caicos – Sports Facility
Grand Turk – NJS Francis Park
*Space is limited, so enrollment will be on a “first-come-first-serve” basis. Students can enroll at the local Sport Offices. Information will be available at each Sport Office as to which sports will be covered on each island and the age range of enrollment. We are also encouraging volunteers to sign up with the Department of Sports to assist in facilitating the various sporting disciplines.
For further information, contact the Department of Sports at 649–338–7704 or visit Sport Offices on the respective Islands to speak with a Sports Officer.
Thank you!
TCIG Department of Sports
“Empowering our people through sports”
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.
News
The Department of Trade, Industry & Fair Competition to Host Export Readiness Workshop Under the theme “Empowering TCI Businesses for Local Growth and Global Markets.”
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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