Experience Turks and Caicos, the official tourism authority for the Turks and Caicos Islands, announced the destination’s 2024 tourism statistics, demonstrating a record-breaking year in tourism, outperforming even pre-pandemic tourism figures. In 2024, Turks and Caicos welcomed nearly 2 million visitors through both air and cruise travel, signifying a remarkable milestone that underscores the islands as an increasingly desirable destination to visit offering unparalleled natural beauty, luxurious amenities, and world-class hospitality across Providenciales as well as its sister islands. Tourism continues to surge and growth is expected in 2025 and 2026 as several high-end resorts and residential developments are set to debut , along with the first direct flight from the U.S. to South Caicos, further enhancing the Turks and Caicos Islands’ appeal as a luxury, multi-island destination and meeting strong demand among existing and new traveler segments.
In 2024, the islands saw a total of 1,959,563 arrivals across air and cruise. Air travel reached an impressive 734,308 arrivals, reflecting a 10.66% year-over-year increase from 2023. The cruise sector also saw significant growth, welcoming 1,225,255 passengers, a remarkable 30.48% increase over the previous year. Additionally, 311 cruise ships were called to the port at the Grand Turk Cruise Center throughout 2024, a 19.16% increase from 2023.
New and Upcoming Luxury Developments
As a part of its flourishing tourism in 2024, Turks and Caicos Islands celebrated several new and renovated properties including the highly anticipated openings of two resort and residential developments in November – South Bank, a luxurious new residential resort and marina by Grace Bay Resorts, and The Strand, a collection of sustainable beachfront villas and custom residences. December also saw the grand reopening of The Palms following an $18 million renovation, which introduced a new Mexican-fusion restaurant and a reimagined pool deck complete with an oceanfront infinity pool. Similarly, The Alexandra Resort unveiled 41 new oceanfront and garden suites and studios.
To accommodate high tourist demand in 2025, Turks and Caicos is excited to welcome new developments, many of which are located on sister islands and will encourage visitors to explore the full destination. On South Caicos, Salterra Resort & Spa, a 100-room luxury resort by The Luxury Collection will open on March 8, 2025 and join the only other luxury resort on South Caicos, Sailrock. The Andaz Turks & Caicos, Hyatt’s first venture into Turks and Caicos, will also debut on Providenciales in late 2025 with a 59-key resort and 74 residences. In 2026, The Loren at Turtle Cove will open with luxury residences, including six private beachfront villas, 25 condos, and 33 guest suites. Additional developments include The Point, a new Grace Bay Resorts residential offering with 56 homes expected to open in late 2026, and Kempinski Grace Bay, a luxury beachfront resort and residence, with an opening date to be announced. These new properties will not only add more accommodations and jobs within the community but will also introduce restaurants, spas, activities, and advancements in ecotourism for a more dynamic and meaningful hospitality experience.
Sister Islands Become More Popular and Accessible
As tourism continues to grow, so does popularity on the Turks and Caicos Island’s various sister islands that make up the archipelago. In late 2024, Skyscanner, a leading travel booking site, named Grand Turk as top trending place to travel to in 2025, according to its annual Travel Trends Report. Grand Turk, the second most populated Turks and Caicos Island, known for its unparalleled diving, rich history, culture, and rustic charm, saw the biggest increase in travel searches from U.S. travelers over the past 12 months. In fact, searches for Grand Turk increased by a wildly impressive 528%.
South Caicos, a 18-square-mile island offering miles of secluded coastline and wildlife, is also becoming more accessible than ever in 2025, thanks to the launch of the first-ever direct flight from the U.S. to South Caicos. Launching on March 15, 2025, a new American Airlines route from Miami will operate twice weekly, making it easier than ever for travelers to experience the secluded island and its rich history, vibrant marine activities, pristine white sand, and turquoise waters.
For more information on the Turks and Caicos Islands, visit www.turksandcaicostourism.com and follow the Turks and Caicos Islands on Facebook and Instagram.
Image credit: Grace Bay Club
