PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) met with the Executive Council on Thursday, January 28, to discuss the lack of a structured public private partnership, the challenges hotels are facing and crime, among other things.
In its opening statement, the SHTA informed the Executive Council of the challenges hotels are facing. The combined occupancy and room rate for 2009 shows a 27 per cent drop over 2008 and the average spending per visitor has decreased. This pattern is being seen in other sectors as well. Wholesalers, for example, are reporting problems with receivable collections and an increase in requests for lengthening payment terms of outstanding bills.
Furthermore, research going forward shows that hotels are already discounting heavily for the 2010 summer season as well as for the high season, which is also a testament to Dr. Emsley Tromp’s statement at the SHTA’s Annual Meeting that 2010 would be the most economically challenging year.
After the introduction, the other agenda items were handled.
The SHTA also requested an update on the status of the Tourism Authority. Commissioner of Tourism Frans Richardson said the final draft should be finalised within the first two weeks of February and the SHTA would then receive a copy for final comments.
The SHTA had been asked to take part in a four-day workshop to assist in designing a project that could be used for the 10th European Development Fund (EDF). The participants in the workshop decided on a hotel/hospitality school. The SHTA has requested updates since then, but was told that the plan had been delivered to the Executive Council.
Richardson said no document had reached the Executive Council yet, but he would seek clarity on the matter.
The SHTA relayed its concern that if the economy worsened, so would crime, and therefore suggested that St. Maarten should follow the French side and increase police presence on the streets.
According to the SHTA, Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards agreed and had stated that crime was also a social issue and therefore had placed a lot of emphasis on public/private partnership and community involvement. He also had listed several actions being undertaken to address the issue. These include:
* Reorganizing the police force: This plan is expected to be approved in February and implemented soon after.
* Letters have been sent to the Central Government requesting reinforcements. These will be coming to the island soon.
* The island is working with several Dutch municipalities and Suriname on a trajectory to obtain additional reinforcements. This is in process.
* A surveillance system will soon start in key areas.
Richards also stated his desire to alter the application requirements for the Police Force, mainly the language component.
The SHTA stated that after reviewing some of the travel Websites, it had learnt that traffic was one of the top complaints from visitors. This was also reflected in the results of the Exit Survey the SHTA conducted at the airport a few years ago. The SHTA believes this is largely due to the lack of a structured public transportation system.
The SHTA was then given a progress report on the Changing Lanes project, in which public transportation is being addressed. This project is set to begin within the next two months. Some of the plans being explored include:
* Ensuring that public transportation covers all areas (and to bring an end to gypsies).
* Stopping buses from running along Back Street and establishing a bus terminal near town instead. “Ferries” will then be available to take persons into town.
* Building a road through the lagoon, from the airport to the Dutch/ French border in Bellevue.
* If things continue to worsen, Government may have to consider restricting the number of cars per household.
The SHTA had also hoped to discuss Sustainable Development, but because the subject was so broad and covered an array of issues, such as waste management, zoning and reef protection, Lt. Governor Richards requested that the SHTA schedule a follow-up meeting.
