The Turks & Caicos annual Regatta festival will be taking place from Thursday, May 24, to Sunday, May 27, 2012.

The emphasis this year will be on culture and to this end several events that will take us back to the early days of Regatta. In keeping with our theme, “KEEPING THE VIBES ALIVE!” we want to revive that family atmosphere and communal spirit of togetherness, fun and catering for every experience of the past.

The calendar of events is as follows:

Thursday, May 24 …… LITTLE MISS REGATTA CULTURAL SHOW

Friday, May 25 ………

• FASHION AND COMEDY SHOW
• MUSIC AND DANCING

Saturday, May 26 …… DAY’S ACTIVITIES

• JUMP – UP
• OPENING CEREMONY
• TRIATHLON
• KITE FLYING
• DOMINOES
• UNCLE ARCHIE’S DIVE
• BOAT RACES
• JUNKANOO CONTEST
• TUG-A-WAR
• BICYCLING BALANCING
• MAY POLE AND MANY MORE FAMILY GAMES
• SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS – SOUTH CAICOS COMPANIES CREATIVE FLOATS

Sunday, May 27 … GOSPEL EXTRAVAGANZA

The Providenciales Flag Festival Committee is pleased to announce the 1st Turks & Caicos International Flag Festival.  The festival will take place from June 1-4, 2012.

The Turks & Caicos Islands is home to nationals from more than 50 countries and this International Flag Festival will bring everyone together for a weekend of fun, cultural exchanges and will also give each person an opportunity to display their national pride.

President of the Provo Flag Festival Committee Abigail Delancy commented “We realize that we live in a multi-cultural society and our neighbors are now closer to us than they were twenty years ago. The Turks and Caicos share its culture with over 50 different nationalities and this is why we believe we should celebrate together. We recognize that at the end of the day all of us here in TCI are working towards the same goal, which is to make the Turks and Caicos Islands a better place”.

Flag Fest 2012 will include a kickoff party, a beach picnic and the grand event will be a motorcade & flag party which will also include the Little Miss Flag Fest Pageant at the National Stadium on Venetian Road.  There will be prizes given for the Best Flag Outfit and the Biggest Flag at the parade.  A soccer match between Haiti & Jamaica will take place on Sunday June 3rd and a Beach Party & Food Festival will be held on June 4, 2012 at the Kids Park on the Lower Bight Road.

Musical guest will include DJ’s from TCI, DR, Jamaica, Trinidad & Haiti and the featured Band will be Lee & the Force from TCI.

Since the destination has begun keeping records of visitor arrivals from the 1980’s, the Turks and Caicos have reached a pinnacle in the growth of the nation’s top industry. Visitor Arrivals to the Turks & Caicos Is-lands in 2011 showed an increase of 12.3% where the vast majority were contributed by the Cruise Arrivals. The month of December saw a growth of 23% in stay-over visitor arrivals. The overall total arrivals for the past year was 1, 009,720 arrivals. This draws on both cruise arrivals and land base arrivals to the country. When broken down separately, cruise arrivals accounted for 655,497 a 6% increase in numbers and land base arrivals accounted for some 354, 223 a 26% increase in the numbers totaling in the aforementioned surpassed 1 million mark.

Land-Base Arrivals (Stay-Over Visitors)

The Arrivals for stay over visitors saw an increase of 26% totaling 354,223 when compared to the numbers of last year arrivals of 281,1559.

The destination continues to draw on its major source market, the United States with Canada in second place. The United States continues its dominance in arrivals to the destination due in part to major airlift to the destination that increased in 2011, namely JetBlue from New York and Continental from New Jersey. The Tourist Board expects the Canadian market to grow even more in 2012 with the addition of the new in season direct flight from the eastern Canadian city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Arrivals for the USA 2011 were 262,142, Canada- 42,282, Europe-6,902, Caribbean-39,913 and the remaining countries total 2,839 in arrivals. Overall arrivals from the USA showed an increase by 34%, Canada increased by 13% while arrivals from Europe had a declined this year by -9%.

If you are in Providenciales on the 3rd or 4th night after a full moon, don't miss the opportunity to see the glow worms!  We recommend going with Captain dave and his crew on the Atebayra - www.suncharters.tc.  This local phenomena features the mating ritual of the local glow worm.  Right on cue, 50 minutes after sunset, the male and female worms perform a phosphorescent dance.  We went on the cruise last month and adults and children alike loved the show!  Captain Dave and his crew offer great hospitality and a comfortable ride on the Atebayra.

One of the best spots on the island to enjoy dinner and a fantastic view of Turtle Cove and Grace Bay is from Magnolia Restaurant.  This well established dining establishment features classic dining fare and locally caught fish.  Magnolia is known for their tuna.  Providenciales is a relatively flat island, but Magnolia Restaurant is located on a hill overlooking Turtle Cove, which incidentally is the site where the first hotel in Provo was built (the Third Turtle - no longer in operation).  Magnolia Restaurant is about a 10 minute drive from Alexandra Resort.  Reservations are recommended.