by Brian Major
Last updated: 11:45 AM ET, Fri June 5, 2026
The Turks and Caicos Islands exhibited tourism growth in the
first quarter of 2026 due to the training of more than 80,000 travel advisors
across all source markets, and partnerships with British Airways and Air Canada,
among other factors. The destination received increased air capacity of 69
seats during the quarter.
The Turks and Caicos hosted 203,587 overnight, land-based
arrivals in the first quarter, five percent above the same period in 2025. The
total represents the highest number of arrivals ever recorded at this time of
year. Conversely, cruise passengers for the quarter totaled 344,287, a 16
percent decline from the previous year.
The total number of hotel rooms at the beginning of the year
was 4,044; 179 new rooms were added in the first quarter. The new rooms are
from Treasure Beach Village st Beaches Turks and Caicos (101). The Hotel Indigo
(58 rooms) and the Ellipse Grace Bay (20 suites). Another 184 rooms are
expected to come online with the opening of the Andaz property later this year.
Several new
properties are scheduled to open in 2027 including The Loren (nine villas, 28
condos and 33 suites); the St. Regis (162 rooms), The Janu (12 beachfront
villas); the InterContinental (59 rooms) and the Kimpton (192 rooms).
The North
Caicos will see its first luxury development in 2029 with the launch of the
Anantara brand’s first Caribbean hotel in Sandy Point. The property will
feature 78 branded residences including beachfront villas. It’s important
because in terms of sustainability, the capital Providenciales is at its
maximum, said Zharvago Jolly, minister of tourism. “Any projects we’re going to
be entertaining are going to be outside of Providenciales, whether in North,
Middle, Grand Turk, Salt Cay or South Caicos,” he said.
Aerial view of Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. (Photo Credit: zaschnaus/Adobe)
“We’ve seen
Salterra open in South Caicos,” said Jolly, “they’re expanding now and will
build a canal and marina. We also have direct flights from Miami, which is
important not having to go through Provo to get to these islands.”
“We’re looking
to expand and develop the airport as well,” said Jolly, “so we have approved this
year the expansion of the Providenciales International airport and we’re going
to complete the design and scope of the airport in North Caicos as well.”
“Our numbers have been going up year on year,” said Jolly, “so
we have to make sure the infrastructure catches up, make sure sustainability doesn’t
just speak to the environment, it speaks to the people; we want to make sure
Turks and Caicos islanders are benefiting from these opportunities. So my team
at Experience Turks and Caicos has the responsibility of not only marketing,
but making sure the tourist attractions are culturally authentic, meaning that only Turks and Caicos islanders can
provide those experiences. So that creates opportunities for entrepreneurship, not
just just jobs working at a hotel.”
“I’m very fortunate, because the person who made me the minister
– the premier Charles Washington Misick, a lot of this was his vision in terms
of sustainability. We worked together in drafting a policy – the Sustainable
Tourism and Spatial Planning policy, which turns all of this into laws. So long
after I’m gone and long after he’s gone there will be a blueprint on how this
whole thing is supposed to play out.”
“Really the most
important message is that we’re open for investment,” said Jolly, “but it has
to be the right kind of project that speaks to preserving the environment. We’re
not mass tourism, we don’t want big, dense hotels, we want low-impact, high-end - that’s our clientele.”
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