The Strategic Policy and Planning Department is pleased to release the results of the Departing Visitor’s Survey which was conducted at the Providenciales International airport in August of this year.
In addressing the survey results, Mr. Shirlen Forbes (jr) Acting Director of SPPD stated that “the report is a result of the collaborative efforts between the Tourist Board and SPPD and intends to provide key players in the tourism industry with useful information in planning and program development for the best interest of the Islands.” He further stated that “the survey also provides data useful for marketing strategies and programs to evaluate the tourism product which will help the TCI to remain competitive.” Director of Tourism, Mr. Ralph Higgs stated that “tourism is a major economic activity in the TCI contributing more than 35 percent of the country’s GDP annually. Hence, there is a need to address the balance in providing quality products and services available to tourists, forwarding the country’s business and social development and preserving the natural beauty of the Islands.”
Some of the highlights of the report are:
The beautiful beaches (64.4%), climate/weather (10.3%) and previous trips (8.6%) were considered as the most important factors in deciding visits to the TCI.
- Visitors generally felt that the tourism services and product in the TCI were very good. However, some expressed dissatisfaction with the level of souvenir purchases, the services of taxi/hired cars and the lack of night life in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
- Recommendation of friends/relatives (32.1%) was posted as the top source of information in planning the TCI trip. Next major source was the internet (26.5%).
Despite the positive sentiments a few of the visitors expressed dissatisfaction with some components of our tourism products. Some visitors felt that there is not much entertainment on the island. A few visitors expressed that the island is very expensive.
Both SPPD and the Tourist Board deems this report as very important because it provides key players in the tourism industry with useful information which can help with the future growth of this industry. The survey will be conducted on a quarterly basis in 2016. SPPD is reminding the general public that the department publications can be found on the department website www.sppdtci.com.