Above: West Caicos

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands will make developing tourism products and activities beyond traditional tourism strongholds like Providenciales a priority, according TCI Governor Peter Beckingham.

The Governor, who gave his 2014 Throne Speech on Wednesday, said the territory’s government would also complete its tourism strategic plan this year.

“A major focus of my government this year is the development and marketing of tourism products and activities in the family islands that will facilitate the decentralization of tourism activity and increased economic growth in these islands,” Beckingham said.

While development continues in Providenciales with projects like the JW Marriott, which is slated to open in 2016, it has been lighter in some of the smaller, more remote islands of the archipelago.

A long-stalled project on West Caicos restarted development last year, however, with 115 hotel rooms planned for construction.

Beckingham said his government also planned to develop a medical tourism policy, an eco-tourism policy and a sports tourism policy.