Government has seen an overwhelming response to its Grand Turk Home Vacation Rental programme according to Invest TCI via news release on Tuesday.
“October 2021, saw the launch of the Grand Turk Vacation Rental Programme, with the Ministry of Tourism announcing a registration drive to support entrepreneurship within the tourism sector through the allocation of grants provided by Invest TCI.
“To increase the bed capacity on the island of Grand Turk, the Government invited persons with vacant or partially occupied homes to register for the programme, which will allow them to receive Government assistance to upgrade their rooms/homes to enter the vacation rental market.
“To date, the programme has been well received, with 86 potential applicants representing 249 potential rooms registering their interest to participating in the initiative,” Invest TCI said in the statement.
Invest TCI pointed out that the application and approval process was underway, with a total of $46,000 already been been paid out.
Commenting on the programme, the Minister for Tourism, Hon. Josephine Connolly, stated, “We are pleased with the response from the community of Grand Turk. As we aim to attract international airlifts to the island, we want to ensure that the residents can capitalize on the increased tourist arrivals and benefit from tourism activities. We encourage the residents of Grand Turk to take advantage of this opportunity and to apply for this Invest TCI programme grant."
Hon. E. Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade, commenting on the programme, stated, “The Grand Turk Vacation Rental Programme is a great initiative, and my Ministry, through Invest TCI, is committed to ensuring the success of this programme.
“I'm delighted that the first set of applicants has been approved, with more approvals coming shortly. If there’s anyone in Grand Turk who wants to benefit from this programme and who has spare rooms or unused properties, I encourage you to contact Invest TCI to get started.”
One of the grants recipient Beverly Harvey expressed that she was grateful for the assistance and excited about progressing her short-term rental business.
Ms. Harvey stated, "My experience working with Invest TCI and the CED in Grant Turk was awesome. I've learned a lot working on my business proposal, and the help offered by Ms. Wendy Bovell in the Grand Turk CED office was invaluable. You are not alone in the process, and there is guidance along the way."
Invest TCI pointed out that Grand Turk residents interested in applying for assistance are asked to visit the CED office in Grand Turk, call Invest TCI’s office at 338 4773 or visit the website at www.investturksandcaicos.tc/msme for more information.
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