Turks and Caicos Hoteliers “Concerned” about Proposed Tax Increase

Hoteliers in the Turks and Caicos have appealed to Gov. Gordon Wetherell and the interim British government to postpone a 1 percent increase in the hotel tax for another month to allow them to be better prepared, according to the Turks and Caicos Sun newspaper.

Claiming they were blindsided by the government’s official announcement on Oct. 13 of the increase from 10 percent to 11 percent, effective Oct. 1, Executive Director of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association Caesar Campbell said that the hotel industry “is clearly concerned. No one in the industry has implemented this policy to date. We must give our travel partners, such as travel agents and tour operators, advance notice, as good business practice calls for.”

Following inquiries of alleged corruption by government officials, including the former premier Michael Misick, the Turks and Caicos were placed under the direct rule of Britain on Aug. 14 for a period of two years. Misick resigned from his post in March.

Campbell also advocated that the tax revenues go toward the overseas promotion of tourism. Currently, the government has allocated no funds for destination marketing, and Campbell predicted a “significant falloff in tourism when the numbers come in, due in part to the lack of advertising, especially in the U.S. market.”