Lindo: ‘Island not getting
fair share of tourism pie’
PHILIPSBURG/St. Maarten--The tourist Product of St. Maarten can be improved and the wealth of the island could be more equitably distributed, according to Charles Lindo candidate number 19 on the People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) list. He also believes that sports is a proven method of involving young people in the development of St. Maarten.
Lindo, who has a MBA degree in Business and Hospitality Administration, feels that the tourism industry on St. Maarten is not all what it is drafted up to be. “As one of the main tourist destinations in the Caribbean, we are not getting our fair share of the tourism pie. We should be attracting more ‘high end’ tourists with more spending power,” Lindo said.
He continued stating: It’s not productive that we are comfortable with what we have and show little interest in finding that niche that would attract more affluent visitors to our island.”
He believes as well that government must see to it that there are more locals working in the top positions in local hotels. Lindo who in addition has a BA degree in Hotel & Restaurant Institutional Management and an AS degree in Food and Beverage Management feels that due to the fact that St. Maarten’s main source of income is the hospitality industry, the island should be more hospitable.
“Service is not being rendered as in the days I started in the business as a Front Office Agent at Pelican Beach Resort in Simpson Bay.” Lindo said too that the St. Maarten people should be more service-conscious and remember the golden rule in the service industry: “The guest is always right.”
Lindo strongly believes in sports as a vehicle to involve young people in organised activities. “I have spent a lot of time introducing young people to sports because it’s a great way to a healthy body and a very productive mind, and teaches discipline and shapes them in becoming great future leaders. There are too many brilliant young minds in our community who are going nowhere and few are trying to help,” he said.
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