The Turks and Caicos Islands reported welcoming over one million cruise passengers in the first 10 months of 2024.
As of October 31, 1,034,251 visitors arrived at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre, surpassing the total of 924,250 passengers recorded for the entire year of 2023.
“Grand Turk is on fire!” said Minister of Tourism Josephine Connolly. “Grand Turk has certainly seen an uptick in the number of ships and passengers arriving at the Cruise Centre throughout the year, and this is supported by a recent BREA report that showed over the past year, $116 million dollars was spent by cruise passengers, crews, and the cruise lines. Experience Turks and Caicos, along with my Ministry, have taken note of the growth in our cruise sector, and we are working to enhance our product offerings and visitor experiences with new initiatives and infrastructural enhancements to ensure Grand Turk remains one of the top ports for cruise lines.”
Over the past year, the Grand Turk Cruise Centre has welcomed new cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises. The organization said that it is focusing on enhancing visitor offerings and ensuring economic benefits for local communities.
Additionally, Experience Turks and Caicos launched “Taste of Turks,” a weekly food and culture fair held every Thursday on Queen Street from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. This event offers an immersive experience for cruise passengers as well as locals, offering authentic cuisine, locally made products and live performances.