While not yet 100 per cent certain, the prospect of Copa Airlines initiating direct service from Panama to St. Maarten later this year (see related article) is reason for joy. Especially if the flights are twice-weekly as expected, they could provide a worthwhile vehicle not only to bring more visitors, but also to stimulate trade and open up business opportunities.
Panama is, of course, well-known for its Free Zone, while the current widening of the Panama Canal will increase tremendously its role in the world of global shipping. As an example, Curaçao's tugboat company KTK recently opened a branch in Panama to provide maritime towing services.
Quite extensive trade actually already exists between St. Maarten and Panama, so a direct flight no doubt would be applauded by local commerce. There is a visa requirement for the Dutch Kingdom, certainly, so that is obviously something which has been taken into consideration.
Just like the GOL flights from Brazil, the Copa flights would present an opportunity to get more out of the Latin American market, which has great potential. The latter is important, because St. Maarten now depends to a great extent on tourists from North America and experience with, for example, the effects of the 9-11 attacks and the recent financial-economic crisis has taught how vulnerable that makes "The Friendly Island."
In addition, travel from both Central and South America is not tied to what is considered the local high season, when it's winter in the Northern hemisphere. This opens up the possibility for more year-round tourism and ultimately, perhaps, also less seasonal labour, which – as is known – tends to have less positive social effects.
If the flights materialise and are indeed a commitment for 18 months, a one-million-dollar marketing investment by government along with incentives by the private sector, including local two resorts, would in any case seem worth it. Diversification within the island's tourism economy remains a priority and airlift from Panama would be more than welcome in that regard.
