Legal requirements

What the law requires

Section 50 of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Regulation and Licensing Ordinance 2023 requires three categories of tourism-related business operators to have their staff trained under Together Individuals Delivering Excellent Service (TIDES).

The following persons are required to have their staff trained under the Together Individuals Delivering Excellent Service (TIDES) program—

1. operators of premises licensed under this Ordinance;
2. operators of restaurants providing service to tourists;
3. operators of tourism services.

Section 50(1), Tourism Regulation and Licensing Ordinance 2023

The requirement extends beyond taxi drivers, tour guides, and hotel employees. To identify the businesses covered, section 50 should be read together with the tourism service categories in Schedule 4 and the accommodation classifications in Schedule 5.

Accommodation businesses

Section 50(1)(a), section 34 and Schedule 5

Airbnb, VRBO & short-term vacation rentals

Section 9 includes vacation rental units offered through Airbnb, VRBO, and similar online rental services. The requirement applies where the premises fall within the Ordinance’s licensing provisions. Section 9 also contains exclusions for specified residential use and premises let unfurnished for a person’s own accommodation; a platform listing alone does not resolve every case.

Tourism service businesses

Section 50(1)(c), the section 2 definition of tourism services and Schedule 4

Schedule 4 identifies the following 19 tourism service categories. These fall within the tourism services referenced by section 50(1)(c).

1. Bicycle services
2. Car rentals
3. Catering services
4. Private chefs
5. Restaurants and bars
6. Concierge services
7. Helicopter tours
8. Horseback riding
9. Taxi services
10. Travel agencies
11. Land-based tour operators
12. Tour boat operators less than 30 feet
13. Tour boat operators over 30 feet
14. Water sports equipment sales and rentals
15. Water sports operators
16. Golf
17. Spas
18. Casinos
19. Marinas

The supplied Schedule 4 distinguishes tour boats less than 30 feet and over 30 feet. For a vessel exactly 30 feet long, seek the Department’s classification rather than assuming which category applies.

Tourism service licences and staff training

Section 23 requires a licence to offer tourism services. Section 25(2)(b) provides that the Director must be satisfied about the training staff or employees have received to provide those services before granting a licence. These provisions support the staff-training requirement in section 50.

Training fees: what Schedule 3 says

The supplied Schedule 3 lists a TIDES training fee of $50 per person for its expressly listed tourism service categories: restaurants and bars, caterers and private chefs, both tour boat categories, land-based tour operators, travel agencies, taxis, car rentals, helicopter tours, horseback riding, bicycle services and rentals, water sports, water sports equipment sales and rentals, and concierge services.

Any separately authorised private training charges will be disclosed separately from Government fees before arrangements are finalised. This website does not collect online payments.

Employees and recertification

Section 50 places the training obligation on the relevant operators. It does not itself list every job position or set a recertification interval.

In its public statement dated 22 November 2023, the Department of Tourism Regulations described an implementation approach covering all tourism industry employees, with training and examinations every two years. This is Department guidance, rather than an interval expressly stated in section 50.

Read the Department’s 22 November 2023 TIDES statement

Trainer authority and official certification

Section 50(2) assigns responsibility for providing the statutory staff training to the Director upon payment of the Schedule 3 fee. Private trainers should have their authority to deliver officially recognised training confirmed by the Department.

Kevin Clarke provides independent training services as an approved and certified TIDES trainer. This website does not represent the Department of Tourism Regulations or issue official Government certificates.

Our independent booking policy

Business bookings require a minimum of 10 participants. Individual sessions are arranged when 10 compatible participants are available. This is Kevin Clarke’s training policy, not a statutory minimum under section 50. Preferred dates remain requests until the trainer confirms arrangements.

Commencement and references

Misick & Stanbrook’s published legal analysis reports commencement on 27 November 2023. Attorney General’s Chambers lists Commencement Notice 76 of 2023. These are identified separately from the 2023 Ordinance text supplied for this website.

• Attorney General’s Chambers: Ordinance 13 of 2023
• Attorney General’s Chambers: 2023 commencement notices
• Misick & Stanbrook: Updated tourism law for TCI

Confirm current official arrangements

For current certification, licensing classifications, and Government fee arrangements, contact the Department of Tourism Regulations: Tourismregulations@gov.tc or (649) 338-5349. These are the Department’s contacts; Kevin’s training enquiries are handled separately.

Summary based on the supplied 2023 Ordinance and the identified Department statement. Last updated 13 October 2026. The summary may be updated as legislation or official arrangements change; it is not presented as a verified consolidated edition of all current legislation.