Turks and Caicos has welcomed close to 1 million air and cruise arrivals in the first six months of 2024.
The island chain saw 998,854 passengers, with 408,749 air arrivals, an increase of 13.6% over the first six months of 2023, and 590,105 cruise passengers, up 19.5% compared with the same period last year. Among the highlights: Cruise passenger numbers in June were the highest so far this year, with
110,504 passengers disembarking from 24 cruise calls, an increase
of more than 82% from June 2023. June was also a good month for air arrivals: There were 72,009 of them during the month, 28.4% higher than a year ago.
"We're proud to build on such a successful start to the year as we gear
up to welcome several new luxury resorts and properties in the second
half of 2024 and beyond," said Turks and Caicos minister of tourism Josephine Connolly. "I am very excited about the new American Airlines flight into South Caicos in February, which will open up our multi-island destination to even more visitors."
On the horizon
Connolly was referring to American's planned twice-weekly, year-round route from Miami to Norman B. Saunders Sr. Airport in South Caicos starting Feb. 15, which coincides with the opening of Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa.
Other new properties coming to Turks and Caicos include South Bank, slated to open in November; The Strand, a luxury and sustainable beachfront villas and custom residences development slated to open this fall; the late-2025 opening of the Andaz Turks and Caicos Residences at Grace Bay, the first Hyatt property on the island, with 59 guestrooms; The Loren at Turtle Cove, scheduled for a 2026 opening; The Point, another new Grace Bay Resorts residential offering with a planned late 2026 opening; and Kempinski Grace Bay, with an opening date yet to be announced.