TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AIR ARRIVALS ARE SKY HIGH

Tourism is on a Roll in the Turks and Caicos Islands

The tourism sector is once again breaking visitor arrival records in Turks and Caicos Islands, which recorded 138,762 air arrivals and 173,151 cruise arrivals in the first quarter of 2022. The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board has released preliminary numbers showing a significant increase in visitors. It’s wonderful to see the destination’s visitor arrivals growing once again. As tourism recovers, we are excited to see these numbers,” said Mary Lightbourne, Acting Director of Tourism for Turks and Caicos Tourist Board. According to Miss Lightbourne, the first quarter of 2022 has been particularly successful compared to the previous two years, which have been difficult for the industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to the next quarter, especially March, which is critical to our sector,” she said. “We are very optimistic about these numbers, in particular the month of March, which is typically excellent for winter vacationers. https://turksandcaicostourism.com/

Bicycles are the preferred mode of transportation at The Sands at Grace Bay Photo Credit @TheSandsTC

Air Arrivals

From January to February and from March to April of 2018, the average increase in stopover arrivals at the Providenciales International Airport and FBOs was 33.0%, rising from 34,057 stopovers in January to 44,596 in February and 60,109 in March. In February 2018, the 44,596 stopovers received marked a huge increase of 248% over the previous year. In February 2021, only 12,798 stopovers were recorded, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and containment efforts. There were 14% less stopovers in February 2020 and 2019 than in February 2019 and 2020, respectively. The first three months of 2019 saw 140,791 stopovers, making up 98% of the 138,762 stopovers seen in the first three months of 2022. The U.S. market is the main source country for visitors, accounting for most of the total visitors from January to March 2022.

Turks and Caicos Islands are rimmed with postcard-perfect beaches Photo Credit @tcitourism

Cruise Arrivals

In 2021, when the cruise sector reopened in the Turks and Caicos Islands, it received 21% of the 117,827 visitors. The Turks and Caicos Islands received 173,151 cruise travellers in the first three months of 2022, accounting for 62% of the 277,280 cruise visitors in the same period the previous year. January welcomed 27 ships with 43,035 cruise visitors, while February welcomed 24 ships with 50,148 travellers, and March welcomed 28 boats with 79,968 cruise visitors. In March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted its travel advisory, implying that the health procedures on cruise vessels are effective and will likely persuade more cruise passengers to follow suit. We are on track to welcome more guests in the coming weeks and months, as these arrival numbers indicate.