Tourism Booms in Turks & Caicos

Despite political adversity and the recent Brexit vote, Turks & Caicos remains one of the strongest destinations for tourism in the Caribbean. The islands are part of Britain’s Overseas Territories and benefited greatly from the country’s membership in the European Union, though Governor Peter Beckingham says its too early to determine how the referendum will affect tourism.

Most of Turks & Caicos’ visitors come from the United States, with a total of 315,247 arriving in 2015, an 8.8 percent increase from the year before. Tourism has been growing in the region for the last 10 years, though concerns over the recent Zika outbreak reached the Caribbean, spurring the Ministry of Health to take action. Launched in collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Agency, the Turks & Caicos Islands recently announced the creation of its new Tourism Health and Safety program, which aims to enhance attractions according to six features: sun, sand, sea, safety, security and service.

Secretary Ministry of Tourism Desiree Lewis believes health initiatives are critical in making Turks & Caicos a popular Caribbean destination. THP plans on minimizing health events and outbreaks by implementing sanitation protocols, safety standards and education initiatives.