Turks & Caicos Islands – Overview:
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British overseas territory situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, to the south east of The Bahamas. The main islands are divided into two groups, which are separated from each other by the Columbus or Turks Island Passage. The Caicos Group includes West Caicos, Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, East Caicos and South Caicos, while the Turks Group includes Grand Turk and Salt Cay.

The local economy is largely centred on the tourist industry, although the off-shore financing sector is well established and enjoying continued growth. In addition, the islands have a significant fishing industry, which, while providing for the domestic market, is an important export earner. The Turks and Caicos Islands are also home to the world’s only conch farm and export more than a million conch per year. The vast majority of the islands' trade takes place with the USA, followed by the UK and other Caribbean islands.

The Turks and Caicos islands are well connected, having international airports located on Grand Turk, Providenciales and South Caicos. Direct flights are in operation to and from the US, the UK, Canada, and many of the other islands throughout the Caribbean. Flights from Grand Turk to New York take approximately 3 hours, while flights to London, via the USA or Jamaica, take in the region of 13 hours. The main ports are located on South Caicos, Grank Turk, Providenciales and Salt Cay.

Economy
Tourism, offshore financial services and fishing constitute the mainstay of the TCI economy. In the past the chief export of the island was salt, however in recent times relatively short flight times have made the Islands a haven for tourists from the USA and Canada. Other factors include having some of the finest tropical beaches in the world and the third largest coral reef system in the world. Visitors to the island can expect to find the highest quality services and facilities, including hotels, restaurants and activities.

According to TCInvest the Turks and Caicos Islands Investment Agency, the government have been supportive of the increased development of mariculture, the practice of cultivating marine creatures (fish, prawn, shellfish etc) for food and other useful products. Sport fishing is also a big draw to tourists and the Islands have a number of fishing charter boats for hire.

Within the Islands there is no direct taxation leading to banks not being required to pay income or corporation tax which allows financial institutions to place funds at competitive rates with lower margins. The islands have little in the way of industrial facilities, making it necessary to import almost all needed commodities including food. Over many years different types of agricultural crops have been attempted but with very little success.

Infrastructure
Within the TCI there are four airports, Grand Turk the major airport is situated on Grand Turk Island at the eastern end of the island chain and is the main airport for International flights. Links to Jamaica, Nassau, the USA and Canada provide staging posts for incoming and outgoing travellers to the islands; additionally there is a direct flight from London Heathrow every Sunday. The other airports are Providenciales airport at the western end of the islands, although used mainly for inter island flights, it can accommodate aircraft up to the size of the A310 Airbus. The two remaining are at North Caicos and the small island of South Caicos.

Travel between and around the Islands is by air, ferry or road, there are a number of car hire firms on the islands and for the more adventurous, scooter hire.

Broadband Internet connections are available, but are expensive in comparison to the USA, Canada and the UK. Most of the TCI’s infrastructure is related to its tourist industry with many high quality hotels, B&Bs restaurants, tourist facilities and attractions catering for about 90,000 visitors per year. By the end of 2005 Grand Turk Island will see the completion of a cruise ship terminal, built by the cruise line Carnival Corporation & Plc.

Workforce
According to the CIA World Fact Book, as of July 2005 the population was estimated to be 20,556 inhabitants. TCInvest state that the current workforce (2005) stands at 12,000, broken down the figures are 15% Professional, 12% Semi-Skilled, 20% Skilled and 53% Unskilled / Manual. The Expatriate population accounts for 66% with the Islanders making up the remaining 34%. A number of trained and qualified young Islanders are returning home, bridging the gap created by the lack of indigenous human resource capacity in both the public and private sector.

Standard of Living
The people of the islands have a reputation for very relaxed attitude, making it an ideal location for those seeking a less stressful pace of life, be it for work or play. The favoured dress is shorts both in and out of the towns although hats and sunscreen are advised during the day.

Some areas of TCI are infested with mosquitoes and the use of a repellent is necessary. During the summer month’s temperatures can rise into the 90’s although the average is 75 to 85. During the period around June to October the islands experience the Hurricane season. The main hospital is on Grand Turk Island, Providenciales also has extensive medical services including a decompression chamber for divers. Health clinics are found on all of islands.

Full ranges of shops are available in the islands. While it is true that the standard of living is quite good, to the north of Cockburn town there is a community of Haitian refugees living in ramshackle homes. The World Fact book quotes the GDP per capita purchasing power parity - $11,500 (2002 est.)