Latest news with #GrandTurk
Travel Weekly
27-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
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.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Princess Cruises ship gets banned from entering Caribbean port
If you've sailed on multiple Caribbean cruises, it's pretty likely that on one of your voyages, you've received the dreaded news that your ship will miss one of its planned ports of call. It happens most often when poor weather conditions prevent a cruise ship from entering a port. For example, on my very first cruise many years ago, rough seas led our captain to divert from the Cayman Islands toward better weather in Costa Maya, however, a different kind of reason prevents a cruise ship from visiting one of the destinations on its itinerary. Passengers sailing on Princess Cruises' Enchanted Princess just found out what that's like, as their ship was turned away from the highly anticipated final port of call on its Caribbean itinerary on May 22. Doug Parker shared details on why the Princess Cruises ship wasn't permitted to visit the destination, and other cruise news, on the May 23rd edition of Cruise News Cruise News Today with Doug Parker. Good morning, here's your cruise news for Friday, May 23rd. A cruise ship was turned away from the Grand Turk cruise port yesterday after dozens of passengers were sick. The Princess Cruises Enchanted Princess reported 50 cases of respiratory illnesses, flu, and stomach issues. Health officials reviewed the ship's medical report and decided the risk was just too high for the island. Because Grand Turk is so small and easy to get around, sick passengers could quickly spread the illnesses. Health Minister Kyle Knowles said that protecting residents and visitors comes first. Enchanted Princess is on a seven-night cruise from Port Everglades and returns Carnival Cruise Line is warning guests not to try sneaking into its exclusive Havana pool area using counterfeit or resold wristbands. Yeah, this is a story. Brand Ambassador John Heald says some passengers have been buying Havana access bands online and attempted to pass them off as premium guests. Carnival uses random wristband colors that change each cruise, and the crew are trained to spot intruders. Carnival says violators risk being removed from the area or even the ship. I'm Carnival Splendor's crew rescued four sailors and three dogs from a disabled catamaran in the South Pacific on Thursday morning. The ship was sailing just south of New Caledonia when it received a distress call and diverted course, reaching the vessel five hours later. The catamaran had suffered engine failure and a broken mast in bad weather. All four people and three dogs were safely brought on board and given food, water, and medical care. Carnival says the rescue won't impact the ship's itinerary. Way to the photo of the week comes from Connie: Carnival Luminosa here in Skagway, Alaska. Beautiful picture here. Got a nice rainbow, too. Love this. Send yours in. Photos@ All photos are subject to broadcast. And cruise stocks were up on Thursday. Carnival Corporation: up 1.7%, 22.43. Royal Caribbean: up slightly, 238.40. Norwegian: up 1.3%, 17.44. And Viking: up slightly, 43.17. If you have a lead on a story, let us know. Tips@ Have yourself a great weekend. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) , or email Amy Post at or call or text her at 386-383-2472.
