The Turks and Caicos Islands Government on 15th November 2021 opened its application portal to accept online submissions from eligible Grand Turk Businesses only involved in the Cruise- Tourism Sector; many of whom were impacted by the economic fallout emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Grand Turk Cruise Assistance Programme aims to ensure that service providers in the Cruise-Tourism sector who were severely economically impacted as a result of the sector’s shutdown is provided assistance that will encourage investment in targeted areas and maintain the industry and existing vendors as requisite preparation for the revival of the cruise industry on Grand Turk.
The assistance package aims to provide eligible Grand Turk businesses only with a one-time payment, ranging from $3,500 to $10,000. The policy aims to address the following areas for assistance for the targeted categories:
- Necessary plant and or infrastructure repairs.
- Staff training.
- Upgrade of business software.
- Digitalization of business processes.
- Purchase of business equipment and supplies.
- Enhance business image standards.
Applications will be received online by the Turks & Caicos Islands Government as of 15th November 2021 until 26th November 2021; unless otherwise directed by the Permanent Secretary of the designated Ministry.
To qualify for the assistance, the applicant must satisfy the following criteria:
- The Business must be licensed under the Turks and Caicos Islands Business Licensing Ordinance, as set out in the table below:
|
Category |
ID |
Activity |
|
Automotive |
106 |
Motor Vehicle Rental |
|
Agriculture, Manufacturing & Processing |
136 |
Native Art and Craft Specialty Stores (Wholesale/Retail) |
|
Personal Care Services |
352 |
Hair Braiding (Beach) |
|
179 |
Spa/Massage Parlors and Body Works |
|
|
Transportation Services |
185 |
Bus Services – Mass Transport |
|
193 |
Taxi Services |
|
|
196 |
VIP Transport |
|
|
Entertainment, Recreation and Events |
226 |
Event Planning and Coordination |
|
Tourism, Real Estate & Hospitality Services |
242 |
Eco-Heritage Tours and Camping Site Operations |
|
248 |
Land Based Tour Operation |
|
|
256 |
Provision of Tourism Services – Other |
|
|
357 |
Water Sports |
|
|
358 |
Water Sports Equipment Sales and Rentals |
|
|
263 |
Water Tours – Less than 30ft. (Per boat) |
|
|
264 |
Water Tours – Over 30ft. (Per boat) |
- The Business must not be wholly or majority owned or subsidiaries of a larger company.
- Majority owned by Turks and Caicos Island Status Holder/s or British Overseas Territory Citizen/s.
- Operating an existing business.
- The Applicant must have been licensed to operate in the financial year 2019/2020 or 2020/2021and currently possess a business licence for financial year 2021/2022. For the purpose of businesses under transportation Services category, in the table above, applicants must also provide a public service vehicle licence for financial year 2019/2020 or 2020/2021 and a public service vehicle licence for financial year 2021/2022
- The Applicant’s business activity must be operational in the island of Grand Turk.
Applicants are advised that incomplete applications will not be processed. Therefore, it is important that you ensure that you read the instructions on how to fill the application to understand clearly what is needed, inclusive of the evidence to be provided.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible following the submission of their applications. Successful applicants will receive an approval letter issued by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. A single payment will be made by the Grand Turk Government Treasury directly to the applicant via cheque. The approved applicant will be required to present photo identification showing either BOTC or Turks & Caicos Islands status.
All grant payments will be required to be collected within one month of being printed, to avoid the grant from being cancelled and withdrawn.
