The Ministry of Tourism, Turks and Caicos Tourist Board and our friends in
the private sector including the TCHTA are following closely and with much
interest the New York state executive order which mandates international
travelers entering New York from CDC identified level 2 and 3 countries to
quarantine for 14 days. Currently Turks and Caicos is identified as a level 3
country by the CDC.

The east coast, and particularly New York, is a major gateway for visitors to our
destination. Additionally, the USA market as of 2019 accounted for 82% of air
arrivals to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Consequently, the Tourist Board and Ministry of Tourism have taken
actionable steps in response to this decision. The Tourist Board, has reached
out directly to New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office and the Ministry of
Tourism is working closely with the Ministry of Health to address the CDC’s
categorization of Turks and Caicos as a level 3 country.

The Turks and Caicos Islands has made significant progress in its efforts to
minimize the spread of COVID-19. This is evident given the decrease of positive
COVID-19 cases reported in recent weeks. The Government of the Turks and
Caicos Islands has prioritized the health and wellness of both our residents
and visitors by introducing stringent public health protocols which are proving
to be successful. Therefore, we will continue to engage our partners and work
diligently to ensure that Turks and Caicos Islands is excluded from being
subject to the quarantine order expeditiously.

In closing the Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs stated, “Since the
reopening of our borders on July 22, 2020, we have welcomed thousands of
visitors, who have enjoyed the warmth and hospitality of our islands and
people. And while we are confident that we can continue to do so, I urge all
residents and visitors to strictly adhere to the health protocols that are
currently in place to help combat this virus”.