TORONTO — The Turks and Caicos Islands welcomed more than 1.5 million air arrivals and cruise visitors in 2023.

Air arrivals were up 21.6% over 2019, for a total of 662,707. That figure exceeded 2022’s stat by 6.6% and surpassed 2021 by 52.4%.

Cruise tourism also registered growth in 2023, with 924,250 guests arriving at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre, representing a 25.8% increase over 2022.

Cruise visitor arrivals for 2023 were below 2019 by 16.9%, however Turks and Caicos’ Minister of Tourism, Josephine Connolly, said she’s optimistic for ongoing momentum in cruise tourism visitors for 2024.

“Our primary objective is to increase visitation from the affluent, luxury lifestyle, multi-generational market to increase spend throughout all our islands and enhance the lives of our citizens across the entire archipelago,” said Minister Connolly.

She added: “Experience Turks and Caicos, established on July 1, 2023, was built upon three pillars — Inclusive Growth, Sustainability and Competitiveness — designed to achieve those objectives. Inclusive Growth refers to the diversification of our tourism product to embrace our sister islands thereby ensuring that our local population benefits from the tourism industry. Through Sustainability, the organization will promote tourism development that is socially, economically, environmentally, and culturally sustainable in the long term. Competitiveness speaks to the enhancement of our tourism product to ensure we maintain our competitive capacity in a highly dynamic industry.”

Last fall the Turks and Caicos Islands achieved ‘Virtuoso Preferred’ destination status. The Turks and Caicos Islands currently have eight properties that have met the requirements to become Virtuoso accredited, including Amanyara; Beach Enclave; COMO Parrot Cay; Grace Bay Club; The Palms Turks and Caicos; The Ritz-Carlton, Turks & Caicos; The Shore Club; and Wymara Resort + Villas.