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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Turks & Caicos Islands
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands – The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board today announced that after 20 years of employment, Ralph Higgs has tenured his resignation as Director of Tourism, effective September 30, 2016. Under Higgs’ directorship, the Turks and Caicos Islands received numerous accolades from the likes of TripAdvisor, CNN, Condé Nast, Forbes, and the World Travel Awards. The destination also experienced a steady increase in tourist arrivals annually. In 2014, Higgs became the first winner of the Caribbean Travel Award’s Tourism Director of the Year for taking the Turks and Caicos Tourism brand to new heights, helping to lead the destination to the best year-over-year improvement in tourist arrivals of any destination in the Caribbean. During his tenure at the Tourist Board, Ralph Higgs steered the organization through several metamorphoses, including over staffing to understaffing, and over funding to insufficient budgets. However, the Tourist Board and the destination reinvented itself through a new marketing approach which sought the greatest return on investment and greater cooperation and collaboration with private sector partners. “The fundamentals of TCI Tourism are strong. Our natural sites and attractions, while some may need a little attention, are in pristine condition. Our room inventory is first class. Other offerings including culinary and our weekly cultural extravaganza (Fish Fry) are the envy of the region. We have never had more flights from international and regional gateways as we do now, and traveling between our Sister Islands has never been easier. Certainly our people have never been more embracing of our visitors and our tourism sector,” Higgs said. “This is a good time for TCI Tourism and the future holds as much promise as we may wish to extract from it. I am pleased and honored immensely to have led our Tourist Board and our country's tourism through some of its lowest and highest periods to date. I would like to sincerely thank the hardworking and dedicated staff of the Tourist Board, successive governments, successive Boards of Directors and the people of the Turks and Caicos for the opportunity to serve. I shall be around God’s willing, accessible and remain ready to assist where needed,” added Higgs. Chairman of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, Don Gardiner, commended Higgs’ tenure as Director of Tourism, “The blocks Ralph laid and the challenges overcame in developing, building, and marketing the Turks and Caicos Islands as a world class destination is now the envy of many in the region.” Gardiner continues, “Ralph’s contribution as an ambassador has no doubt left an indelible impression on us all. His leadership, experience and sound judgment will be an asset to whomever and wherever his next journey takes him.” The Board of Directors and Staff of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board express their heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the many years of dedication, hard work and professional service Higgs has given to the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board and the tourism industry at large.
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