The Turks and Caicos Islands is the fastest-growing tourist destination in the Caribbean, according to a report from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

According to the CTO despite political uncertainties, security concerns and economic challenges in the country`s major source markets, stopovers to the destination grew by a robust 17.5 percent in 2016 totaling 453,612 arrivals when compared to 385,531 arrivals in 2015.

The CTO in a release issued on Tuesday, February 14, pointed out that the TCI welcomed and hosted some 1,300,575 tourists to its shores in 2016. It noted that while the majority of arrivals were cruise-based, 2016 marked an impressive, fifth consecutive year of growth in stopover arrivals. Further assessment of the 1.3 million arrivals in 2016 shows 453,612 visitors were stopovers and 846,963 arrivals came via cruise.

The Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board underscored that 2016 marked a record setting year for the destination; which saw for the first time some 400,000 stopover arrivals through our international airports and fixed based operations.

The release stated: “For a consecutive year, the destination recorded growth in each month of the year and within the overwhelming majority of its major source markets. The growth rate ranged from a 27.4 percent increase in stopover arrivals recorded in September to a 7.5 percent increase in December of 2016.”

According to the recently released State of The Industry Report 2016 from the CTO, tourist arrivals among the destinations showed uneven growth. Of the 28 Caribbean destinations reporting data for varying periods between January and December, the Turks and Caicos Islands’ 17.5 percent increase in stopover arrivals lead the region.

Besides the TCI 4 countries, Belize, Cuba, Guyana and Bermuda reported double digit growth rates.

For complete article, see http://tcweeklynews.com/tci-is-the-fastest-growing-tourist-destination-in-the-caribbean-p7689-149.htm