The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is currently experiencing a surge in tourism, with the prospects for an even stronger than expected recovery in 2022.

TCI welcomed 138,762 arrivals in the first quarter of this year, which represented 98 per cent of the same period during the pre-pandemic level in 2019. The number represents one of the strongest tourism recoveries in the entire Caribbean.

The growth comes as Turks and Caicos last month lifted its pre-testing requirements for all vaccinated travellers. The tourism visitor out-turn during the first quarter was just about even with what had been spectacular visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2019. 

TCI has been reporting an average month-to-month increase of 33 per cent so far in 2022. The United States continues to be the destination’s primary source market, based on data coming from the TCI Tourist Board. 

Mary Lightbourne, acting director of the TCI Tourist Board, declared that, “The tourism industry is poised for a full recovery. The first quarter, especially March, is traditionally excellent for winter vacationers, and has seen a robust [change] in visitor arrivals, almost paralleling the corresponding month in 2019, which saw the best pre-COVID arrivals for the sector.”

According to Lightbourne, “these arrival figures are indicative that the Turks and Caicos Islands continue to be a sort after destination.”

“We are indeed on pace to increase our arrivals in the coming weeks and months, welcoming all our guests to our Beautiful by Nature isles,” she added.