The Turks and Caicos Islands recorded their strongest start to a year on record, welcoming 203,587 stayover visitors between January and March 2026. The figure represents a 5 percent increase over the same period in 2025 and the highest number of first quarter arrivals ever registered in the destination.
The milestone coincides with a major expansion of air connectivity. BermudAir will operate six direct routes between the United States and Providenciales from October 2026 through May 2027, including the first ever nonstop flights to the islands from Raleigh-Durham and St. Pete-Clearwater.
Experience Turks and Caicos, the destination’s tourism authority, announced the results as the islands build on a year in which they welcomed nearly two million visitors in 2025. The sustained growth reflects continued demand among travelers drawn to the destination’s beaches, resorts, villas, and culinary offerings.
“We are very pleased to start 2026 with record-breaking tourism, which is a testament to our continued position as a high-demand destination and the success of our efforts to deepen engagement with travel partners,” said Zhavargo Jolly, Minister of Tourism. “The addition of flight routes through BermudAir further signifies a clear vote of confidence in the Turks and Caicos Islands and a meaningful step in strengthening and diversifying connectivity to key source markets. At the same time, we remain focused on sustaining this growth in a way that both increases value for our visitors and delivers long-term economic opportunities for our residents.”
The expanded BermudAir schedule strengthens links with key markets along the US east coast. From Newark Liberty International Airport, the airline will fly a weekly nonstop Saturday service plus an additional weekly direct Thursday service from December 19, 2026, through April 29, 2027. Boston Logan International Airport receives a weekly Saturday service from December 19, 2026, through May 1, 2027.
A weekly nonstop Thursday service from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport runs from December 24, 2026, through April 29, 2027. Raleigh-Durham International Airport gains twice-weekly nonstop flights on Thursdays and Sundays from December 20, 2026, through May 2, 2027.
From Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, BermudAir will operate three weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from October 26, 2026, through May 3, 2027. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport receives twice-weekly nonstop service on Mondays and Thursdays from December 21, 2026, through May 3, 2027.
The destination is also expanding its hotel and dining offerings to meet rising demand. In the first quarter of 2026, the islands added 177 new hotel rooms with the opening of Hotel Indigo by IHG near Grace Bay Beach, Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos, and 20 bespoke suites at Ellipse Grace Bay. New restaurants include AMBRA at Beach Enclave, Anchorage at Blue Haven Marina, Il Forna at Hotel Indigo, and Salina at Ellipse.
Marketing efforts continue alongside the capacity growth. Recent initiatives include a partnership with TravelView to distribute destination video content to more than 80,000 travel advisors across the United States, and the return of the Premier’s United States Tourism and Investment Roadshow in May 2026, which visited New York City, Dallas, Denver, and Chicago and introduced “Meet Me in Turks and Caicos,” the official destination anthem and music video.
In the United Kingdom, participation in initiatives such as UNITE Caribbean has generated increased bookings among key travel partners, while engagement in Canada and Latin America has expanded through trade shows and advisor programs.
Further growth is expected later in 2026 with the planned opening of Andaz Turks and Caicos at Grace Bay.
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