Turks and Caicos offers a progress report at CHTA event
Meagan Drillinger
Turks and Caicos is riding a wave of growth in 2025, with strong visitor arrivals, record-breaking cruise numbers and infrastructure developments across the islands. Under the leadership of CEO Paul Pennicook, Experience Turks & Caicos, the destination's new destination marketing and management organization, is steering the tourism sector with an eye on sustainability and global competitiveness.
During a press briefing at the Caribbean Hotels & Tourism Association's annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace earlier this month in Antigua & Barbuda, Pennicook said the country has done very well in the years following the pandemic and that the momentum is continuing into 2025. In the first quarter of 2025, visitor arrivals were up 2.3% over the same period in 2024, with March clocking the highest number of monthly visitors at 76,850 arrivals.
Top source markets remain consistent among the U.S., Canada and the U.K. But there's growing recognition of the Caribbean region as a strong fourth market, with inbound traffic from the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica.
A cruise surge
While Providenciales continues to dominate in overnight visitor arrivals, Grand Turk is emerging as a cruise powerhouse, according to Pennicook. In Q1 alone, for example, the Grand Turk Cruise Centre received 410,107 cruise passengers, a 54% increase year over year.
"For that first quarter, there were two ships in port daily," said Pennicook. The cruise spike is helping to distribute tourism across the islands and fuel local economies outside of Provo.
• Related: Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos taking bookings
With eight airports spread across the country, Turks and Caicos is positioning itself as a multidestination nation, and several facilities are currently undergoing upgrades. In Providenciales, Howard Hamilton Airport is in the midst of a 2025-2026 congestion alleviation project. Phase one included an expanded departure lounge and a new security checkpoint. Phase two will add new international departure gates.
Meanwhile, bids for a new passenger terminal and parallel taxiway are still under evaluation.
"Final bids were received in December 2024," said Pennicook. "The evaluation is still happening." He noted that the February election slowed down the process, and now that the new government is in place, the process can continue.
• Related: Wymara Villas unveils its largest unit yet
Other islands are also seeing progress. In March 2025, the South Caicos Airport reopened to international traffic with American Airlines now offering twice-weekly flights from Miami.
"Phase two of that airport's remodeling will complete external work and improve critical infrastructure," Pennicook added.
North Caicos is getting a new terminal, and daily domestic flights now connect it with Provo via Caicos Express.
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