Tourism has been on a record pace over the last few months in the small Caribbean nation of Turks and Caicos, according to tourism officials there who say they haven’t yet seen any slowing due to the recent global surge in COVID-19 cases.
“This has probably been one of the busiest Januarys we have seen,” said Pamela Ewing, the director of tourism for the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, who noted the travel period right after the holidays is typically one of the destination’s slowest.
“I think maybe it's because people are determining they will go ahead and take their vacations now because they don't know what's going to happen over the next, say, six weeks or so,” Ewing said. “Occupancy levels on the islands — based on the information we received from our hotels — is at approximately 80%. That's quite good — particularly for January, which would usually be in the 60s.”
Occupancy levels on the islands — based on the information we received from our hotels — is at approximately 80%. That's quite good — particularly for January, which would usually be in the 60s.
Ewing did say Turks and Caicos has seen some delayed flights in recent weeks as the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has sent case counts soaring across North America. There have also been some travelers who have chosen to postpone their visits, according to Ewing, who was quick to note there have been very few cancellations.
A collection of 40 small islands and uninhabited cays, Turks and Caicos welcomed 122,289 visitors in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 4.9% over the same period in 2019, according to the destination’s tourist board.
Although arrivals figures have been outpacing the norm in recent weeks, Ewing did concede she is anticipating some Omicron-related slowing next month.
"While we expect January to end on higher-than-usual occupancy levels, maybe February will be a little bit softer, but hopefully not too much softer,” Ewing said. “As long as things continue to improve with the virus overall, I expect we will continue to see improvements in our occupancy levels and our numbers [in March and April].”
COVID-19 Protocols and Entry Requirements Continue to Impact Demand
The Turks and Caicos tourism chief did attribute many of the destination’s impressive recent tourism figures to pent-up demand in the North American market, but Ewing also said the destination has done a good job of communicating its testing and safety protocols to potential visitors, and those policies have remained largely consistent throughout the pandemic.
“We also have an 80% vaccination rate now in the local population,” she said. “So, I think people feel we are a safe destination and that we're managing the pandemic relatively well overall.”
All travelers over the age of 16 must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to visit Turks and Caicos, and anyone over the age of 10 must also show proof of a negative PCR or antigen COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before their departure. Documentation of the negative test and vaccination must then be uploaded online along with proof of insurance that covers air medical evacuation due to COVID-19.
Susan Blechschmidt, a Chicago-based advisor at Andrew Harper Travel, said Turks and Caicos’ relatively stringent testing and safety requirements have led some of her clients to consider vacationing elsewhere. But she also has a number of trips on the books to the small Caribbean destination in coming months, including a family of 10 looking to visit Turks and Caicos over spring break.
“They don’t seem that concerned at all,” Blechschmidt explained, noting some of her clientele booked on international trips have chosen in recent weeks to vacation domestically instead. “There are either some people who are very nervous and are just going to postpone or cancel. Or, there are people that are just like, ‘You know what? Let’s just do it.’”
Blechschmidt said she has remained very busy handling inquiries and booking vacations in recent weeks but did note a fair bit of that business has been to North America, though she is still selling some visits to Mexico, the Caribbean, Costa Rica and Europe for next summer.
She is also advising people that hotels have modified their stance on refunds or changes without penalty, using the example of a couple she booked to Turks and Caicos in early February who wanted to rebook in May due to concerns about Omicron.
The hotels are being flexible, but they’re not being as flexible as they were when all of this started. … If you’re going to go and then, all of sudden, you’re nervous to go, you can’t just cancel. They can’t do that anymore.
“The hotel gave them until the end of March, so they’re just keeping their fingers crossed and hoping by March things are a little bit better than right now,” Blechschmidt said. “The hotels are being flexible, but they’re not being as flexible as they were when all of this started. … If you’re going to go and then, all of sudden, you’re nervous to go, you can’t just cancel. They can’t do that anymore.”
New Hotels and a Cruise Facility Upgrade
On the heels of the June 2021 opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos in Grace Bay, which features 147 ocean-view guestrooms and suites, the destination is slated to welcome several new hotels later this year and in 2023.
The Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos opened last June in Grace Bay and the destination is scheduled to welcome three new hotels this year and two in 2023.
Credit: 2022 The Ritz-Carlton Turks & Caicos
In the spring, the luxury-minded Rock House is scheduled to open on Providenciales’ north shore, where travelers will be able to stay in 42 private cottages. In June, the eco-friendly Bight Hotel, a boutique property overlooking Grace Bay, plans to welcome its first guests. The residential resort South Bank Turks & Caicos, featuring one- to six-bedroom homes, is also set to open in Providenciales’ Long Bay Beach this December.
Meanwhile, construction is slated to begin later this year on the Andaz Turks & Caicos Residences at Grace Bay, which will feature 60 hotel rooms and suites, as well as 74 residences. The luxury property is tentatively scheduled to welcome its first guests in early 2023. Travelers can also look forward to The Strand Turks & Caicos, a private residential resort scheduled to open next year on the southern shoreline of Providenciales.
I think that helps to give people the comfort that although properties are being added, you're not getting an overcrowding situation. That’s just not our brand.
Turks & Caicos tourism board director Ewing said the newly opened Ritz-Carlton and the planned hotel unveilings later this year and next demonstrate that the destination continues to appeal to and attract the luxury market, but she was quick to note that the new products won’t sit right on top of one another.
"I think that helps to give people the comfort that although properties are being added, you're not getting an overcrowding situation,” she said. “That’s just not our brand.”
Turks and Caicos officials also recently released details about a $25 million improvement plan to the Grand Turk cruise port and surrounding infrastructure in partnership with Carnival Corporation. Enhancement plans there include purchasing land for a new vendor’s market, a floating dock for watersports tours and other operators, as well as space for wedding planners and other retailers.
Ewing noted Turks and Caicos reopened to cruise ships Dec. 14 last year, and the destination has been welcoming a number of vessels and their passengers in Grand Turk each week over the past month. And she praised the new Cruise Port improvement project, saying changes there have been long anticipated.
"We feel the upgrades being made will definitely enhance the experience with the cruise passengers arriving on Grand Turk,” Ewing said. “And I think that this will allow for an increased capacity for additional cruise ships to be able to come into Grand Turk … and really help to expand our cruising industry.”
The Details
Turks & Caicos Islands Travel Authorization
