TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

Click here to print

08 February 2010

Send to a friend

TURKS & CAICOS TOP TOURIST ARRIVALS

Turks & Caicos announces a 12.5 per cent increase for long stay and cruise arrivals in 2009

The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board has announced a positive 2009, with a 12.5 increase in combined long stay and cruise arrivals.

Cruise arrivals in 2009 have shown steady increases over the years; a 21 per cent increase was recorded for the year, with a total of 513, 928 cruise passengers in 2009. Compare this to 2008 figures, when 404, 952 visitors came to Turks and Caicos.

With regards to the long stay market, there has been a slight decrease of 0.21 per cent (amounting to 351,498 long stay travellers) in 2009 versus 2008 (352,271 long stay travellers) – a difference of 773 visitors.

Primarily, the Turks and Caicos inbound tourism market is composed of visitors from the U.S., Canada and major European markets. Ralph Higgs, Director of Tourism for the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, said that the destination’s resilience in 2009 makes him “confident that 2010 will be a stronger tourism year.”

The Canadian, US and European markets remain tops

2009 tourism statistics show that the United States, Canada and major European markets remain the destinations top three markets respectively. The US market showed a 4.4 per cent increase (277,426 visitors) over the same period in 2008(265,732 visitors). The European market remained steady, reporting no percentage change.

The Canadian market showed a 20 per cent increase in passengers arriving via scheduled and charter flights in 2009 when compared to the same period in 2008.

Spreading the word via TV and magazines

In 2009, the tourist board did not participate in its usual marketing calendar of international promotional events, however, the destination was featured on a number of US and UK based television series and publications including Travel Channels’ Bridget’s Sexiest Beaches, Real Housewives of Orange County, Magazines namely, Brides, Weddingbells, Caribbean Travel + Life, and Bon Appetite. In addition to this, the destination also played host to a number of photo shoots for publications, high-end retailers and designers such as: Macys, Victoria Secret, W Magazine, and Fitness Magazine, to name a few.

WestJet and US Air offer more service

Beaches Resorts

The Turks and Caicos also became more accessible to North American travellers in 2009, as US Air and WestJet increased flight service to the islands. US Air introduced additional flights from Boston, Philadelphia and Charlotte and WestJet introduced twice weekly scheduled flights from Toronto.

More to see, more places to stay

In 2009, the destination had a number of hotel openings, including the opening of the Estates at Grace Bay, a 22-all-luxury residential property featuring four bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, in a total of 4,800 square feet of indoor/outdoor space, with private plunge pool and outdoor shower and Beaches Resort and Spa’s Italian Village, a 162 Italian inspired village with complete Butler Service, three additional restaurants, water park with seven additional pools and kids camp.

“We anticipate that 2010 will be a strong tourism year” added Higgs. “We are seeing an increase in our tourist arrivals, additional flights to the islands, approval for the expansion of the Providenciales International Airport, as well as a number of resort properties to be added to the accommodation collection.”

2010 numbers show strong interest

Tourist arrivals for January 2010 are up 12 per cent over the same period a year prior. In January 2010 the destination saw a total of 102,592 cruise ship and long stay visitors over 91,659 cruise ship and long stay visitors in January 2009. January 2010 the destination also saw 65,411 cruise ship visitors and 31 cruise ships over 57,752 cruise ship visitors and 29 cruise ships the same period a year prior.

Meanwhile, in January 2010, the destination welcomed 37,481 long stay visitors over 33,907 long stay visitors the same period a year prior.

A year long Tourism Awareness Campaign

Over and above these 2010 statistics, the board has decided that they will market and promote the destination through a number of ways; participation at major international travel and trade shows, designed to maximizes the exposure gained through public relations event and activities and the launch of a year long Tourism Awareness Campaign which will replace its annual Tourism Awareness Week events.