Upgrade recommended for TCI tourism

A Working Group makes recommendations to freshen the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) approach to attracting tourism.

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, Thursday July 29, 2010 – A group set up to look at ways to boost tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has made several recommendations, including the creation of a new entity to better promote the country and a fresh approach to the task.

The suggestions are outlined in a report published by the nine-member Working Group.

It has recommended that the country’s Tourist Board be restructured and rebranded to resemble a true public/private partnership. That Tourism Authority, as the group refers to the new body, would adopt a form similar to that of any private sector enterprise.

“Members of the hotel sector and restaurateurs would become members upon the payment of their monthly accommodation taxes. All businesses that are in the tourism sector and directly cater to tourists – marina services, realtors, water sports and fishing operators, travel agents –would pay membership fees based on a preset schedule,” it explained.

The need for a fresh approach to promoting tourism in the TCI was also highlighted.

The Working Group said that “a new start” is essential and should be launched by a programme that is founded on three principles: true partnership between all stakeholders for the promotion of tourism on the islands; a new inclusive promotional programme for tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a whole; and the involvement of the entire community in the tourism industry. 

“We should present a more inclusive profile of our country as a whole, with the undeniable attraction of the hotels and resorts in Provo as part of that broader picture. This profile should encompass the natural beauty, sights and activities to be found on all islands. It is the WG’s view that Provo would benefit from this inclusive approach as well as the other islands,” it said.

The Working Group also pointed to the need to take put radical measures in place to curb rising crime, noting that “all efforts to promote tourism will be to no avail if the Government does not aggressively tackle the rising levels of crime”.

It has therefore recommended a close liaison between the Tourism Authority and the police. 

“It is recommended that the Commissioner of Police should appoint a liaison officer who can work with the Tourism Authority dealing with day to day issues. In addition, every six months, or as reasonably requested by the Tourism Authority, the Commissioner of Police should attend the Board Meeting of the Tourism Authority to discuss crime trends and ways of working with the industry to ensure that the TCI rebuilds its former reputation for being a peaceful relatively crime free destination,” the report said.

It said that “a strong message needed to be sent to the tourism world that the problem had been identified and that urgent measures were being taken”. 

“At the very least, this should include the immediate lifting of restrictions on police recruitment and funding and absolutely must involve the rolling out of an emergency programme designed to stamp out crime in the Community,” it added.

Among the other areas mentioned in the report was improvement of customer service by immigration officers, customs officers and taxi drivers.

Acting TCI Governor Mark Capes has welcomed the report.

“There is no doubt that a sustainable, vibrant tourism sector is important to the economic development of the Turks and Caicos Islands given its significant contribution to the GDP,” he said. “It is therefore necessary that we have the appropriate vehicle to move this competitive industry forward with an effective promotion and marketing strategy for the future of these islands.” 

The Working Group was established in September 2009 by then Governor Gordon Wetherell. All major stakeholders were contacted and questionnaires sent to over 350 travel agents as part of the research.