US tourists continue to have an insatiable appetite for the Turks and Caicos Islands even as some American politicians have called for the territory to be boycotted. Photo: iStock

The boycott movement was launched after five Americans found themselves in legal trouble for bringing multiple rounds of ammunition into the TCI during their vacation.

During a media conference at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Marketplace in Montego Bay, Loop News asked Alvin Hegner, chairman of Experience Turks and Caicos, whether Americans have heeded the call to boycott the territory.

He said: “The US market is very important to us and we do have empathy for anyone that’s having issues in our territory. We are a British territory. We are not some rogue nation out there deciding to implement our own laws. And in terms of boycotting that is something for the British Foreign Office and US Government to deal with. We cannot comment on any ongoing legal issues.”

“Our destination remains strong. We are seeing our airline arrivals increase over the next six months by over 65 per cent and we are working very closely with our partners to ensure that the market remains strong.”

On Monday, a bi-partisan US congressional delegation visited the TCI to discuss the arrests of Tyler Wenrich, Sharitta Grier, 45; Michael Lee Evans, 72; Bryan Hagerich and Ryan Tyler Watson, 40 with government officials.

A statement from the TCI Governor's Office said the government stood firm that the territory’s laws must be followed and rejected efforts by the congressional group to meet with the chief justice.

TCI also noted the failure of US border control to find the illegal items before it left the country.

Yesterday, Wenrich appeared in a TCI court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of ammunition possession.

He is facing a possible 12-year prison sentence.

The 31-year-old was nabbed by security in April as he attempted to re-enter a cruise ship in Grand Turk with multiple rounds of ammunition.

He will be sentenced May 28.