The Turks and Caicos Islands continues to show strong growth in cruise passenger traffic, according to newly-released numbers from the destination’s tourism officials.
Turks and Caicos’ cruise industry is centered in the port of Grand Turk, which has welcomed 143 ships so far this year, a 10.9 percent increase compared to the previous year.
That included a total of 491,806 cruise passenger arrivals — a 51.7 percent increase in visits to the island.
The United States continues to dominate cruise arrivals, accounting for 444,832 arrivals of that total, itself a 90 percent increase.
Canadian cruise visitors totaled 27,228 so far in 2023, a 5.54 percent increase.
Two ships made their first-ever stops in Grand Turk this year: Carnival Venezia and Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady.
The growth “underlines Grand Turk’s appeal and commitment to attracting and accommodating travelers from different backgrounds and regions,” the government said in a statement.
