Fact File

• Position: South eastern extremity of the Bahamas chain of islands
• Governor: His Excellency Gordon Wetherell
• Airport: 8 Airports, Grand Turk, Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Pine Cay, Providenciales, Salt Cay, South Caicos and Ambergris Cay
• Providenciales International Airport: Tel: + 1 649 941 5670 Fax: + 1 649 941 5558
• Grand Turk International Airport Tel: + 1 649 946 2233
• Capital City: Cockburn Town, Grand Turk
• Population: 26,000
• Language: English and Creole
• Currency: US Dollar

Director of Civil Aviation

Mr Thomas Swann
Managing Director
Civil Aviation Authority
PO Box 1120
Hibiscus Square
Grand Turk
Turks and Caicos Islands

Tel:  +1 649 946 2137
Fax: + 1 649 946 1659

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Home » About ASSI » Overseas Territories » Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands territory is made up of 40 islands on the south eastern edge of the Bahamas chain of islands in the Caribbean.  Six of the islands are inhabited, Grand Turk, Salt Cay, South Caicos, Middle Caicos, North Caicos and Providenciales.

History

There is dispute about who first found the islands, some say that Juan Ponce do Leon first discovered the islands in 1512, others claim that Christopher Columbus landed first in 1492. Whoever arrived first the islands were uninhabited and changed hands between the French, Spanish and British until 1678 when they were settled by a group from Bermuda who started producing salt. The Turks and Caicos Islands became part of the Bahamas in 1799 but in 1848 the Islanders petitioned for and were granted separate colonial status. In 1872 the Islands were annexed by Jamaica and they remained part of Jamaica until Jamaica gained independence from Britain in 1964. The Turks and Caicos Islands finally became an independent Overseas Territory with its own Governor in 1973.

Today

The Turks and Caicos Islands main industries include tourism, property development, international finance and fishing. There is a thriving tourist industry mainly based around a number of exclusive hotel developments and holiday homes on the island of Providenciales.

Aeronautical Information Publication

Please contact:

Mr Tom Swann
Managing Director
Civil Aviation Authority
PO Box 1120
Hibiscus Square
Grand Turk
Turks and Caicos Islands

Tel:  +1 649 946 2137
Fax: + 1 649 946 1659

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