Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — Police are strongly advising that visitors and residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands only use licensed and legitimate operators when booking water sports excursions.
In a January statement, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force urged the public to exercise increased caution when booking tour and excursion providers, specifically mentioning boat tours and jet ski rentals.
Unlicensed tourism businesses have fallen under increased scrutiny in the region, such as in The Bahamas, where fatalities and assaults on tours have led the government to impose new regulations and fines for operating unlicensed businesses. The latest of these incidents—the sexual assault of a tourist involving a jet ski operator—occurred Monday.
Unlicensed tour companies often do not follow safety and environmental regulations. Many are uninsured, which can make it very challenging to collect damages in the event of injury or death.
The police also recommended that prospective guests “record names, contact information, and take photographs of operators, vessels, and equipment” and call 911 if they observe suspicious activity with a potential operator.
All tour companies in the Turks and Caicos Islands must have a valid business license to legally operate, and vessels and captains also require special licenses to provide tours. Most tourism industry employees are also required to complete training with the Department of Tourism Regulations’ TIDES program and renew their certification every two years.
One way to vet potential tours and excursions is by verifying whether the company has a proper website and a good online presence and whether it is listed on reputable tourism websites. Licensed companies should be able to demonstrate their business license and TIDES certification upon request.