Turks & Caicos Is Booming. Can the Island Avoid the St. Barts Curse?
Providenciales, the capital of the coral island archipelago of Turks and Caicos, has grown into the Caribbean vacation destination of choice for A-listers. Provo to the initiated, its popularity was spurred by a best-in-the-Caribbean inventory of massive, ultra-private luxury villas—not to mention the no-filter needed, sugar-white sand beaches and Gatorade Cool Blue-water.
In fact, Turks was one of the best-performing global destinations in terms of visitor growth in 2023, according to the World Tourism Organization. And it’s not wooing just anyone: the country’s sustainable development strategy is aimed squarely at high-income, ultra-luxury travelers.
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As a result Provo and its neighboring islets are growing, with new districts of multi-million-dollar for-sale villas, splashy rentals and new five-star guest rooms. However, the island’s stakeholders say that as the island grows, they hope to cut a different path than their Caribbean competitors.
“St. Barts it is not,” CEO and Founder of Beach Enclave Vasco Borges tells Robb Report. “We didn’t go for big development early. Instead, we prioritized low density with exclusivity and privacy. But the real reason people here don’t care about the celebrity thing is that it’s very casual. The beauty is in the simplicity—that’s what keeps people coming back.”
One of the island’s most exclusive collections of private villas and residences, a stay at Beach Enclave includes a butler, a private chef, and a concierge service. Now, this fall, Beach Enclave is unveiling their most ambitious new estate homes at the Reserve at Grace Bay by Beach Enclave. The three sunset-facing villas range from 13,797 to 15,141 square feet and are designed by Jacobsen Arquitetura. Each is set on nearly five acres directly on splashy Grace Bay beach. The Reserve also includes golf greens and a fitness center, as well as tennis, pickleball, padel, beach volleyball and basketball courts.
“The topography and privacy are unique,” says Borges. “To have this level of luxury directly on such an iconic location as Grace Bay beach proper with its stunning raw beauty, it’s going to be a game changer.”
As demand for private ultra-luxury residences continues to boom, Grace Bay Resorts’ COO and co-founder Nikheel Advani says personal connections and creating bespoke experiences will continue to set TCI apart.
“More and more, luxury travelers are looking for authentic experiences, which can be hard to come by,” says Advani.
In November, Grace Bay Resorts—whose portfolio includes Grace Bay Club and the stunning Mediterranean-inspired Rock House that opened on Provo’s north shore in 2022—will debut a new luxury residential resort called South Bank. Spread across 31 acres, the development will sell one- to six-bedroom Lagoon Villas and Ocean Estates, as well as 17 Sky Villas (those are slated to open in 2026). Located on the south side of the main road that cuts through the island (Grace Bay is on the north side), it’s centered around a private man made swimming lagoon and features a luxury spa and private boating.
“South Bank is truly the first-of-its-kind, weaving in water and nature into every individual accommodation,” Advani says. “This luxury waterfront resort sets itself apart with bespoke experiences, there is truly something for everyone.”
For real estate developer and owner of a popular beach bar and restaurant called da Conch Shack, John Macdonald says that in the 25 years he’s lived there, Turks and Caicos has gone from “Turks and where?” to a “must-visit destination.”
“I knew almost nothing about Turks & Caicos before I first visited, but quickly discovered that it was special, and I wanted to be a part of it,” Macdonald says.
Currently, Macdonald is involved in the development of another a private residential resort community called The Strand, which will include 41 luxury beachfront villas and custom residences, as well as a full-service spa, water’s edge restaurant and bar, 1,400 feet of canal and marina when it opens this fall.
“Turks is in the perfect sweet spot, where it’s big enough for residents and visitors to enjoy amenities and sophistication without it being overly commercial,” Macdonald said. “T&C has always been beautiful, and now it’s much more accessible for visitors to relax in its beauty.”
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