Stay over tourism
expected to increase
PHILIPSBURG--The eight-month-old Princess Juliana International Airport terminal building and additional direct and connecting airlift into St. Maarten are expected to aid the growth of stay over tourist numbers this year.
Stay over visitor numbers have remained somewhat dormant in recent years with a total of 467,861 arrivals in 2005 compared to 467,804 in 2006.
Based on the Economic Outlook 2007, growth was noted especially in the South American (about 27 per cent) and European markets (three per cent). “Promotional activities were especially geared towards attracting a more diversified spread of visitors with more regional visitors from these markets.”
The largest tourist source market, North America, shrank somewhat by minus 1.7 per cent after a weaker showing from the Canadian market in 2006. “The moderation of the US economy since the second quarter of 2006 may have also influenced the growth potential of arrivals from that market throughout the year.”
Villa/condominium developments and international branded properties will also work to attract more visitors, according to the outlook. Several properties, including The Cliff and Rainbow Beach, are coming on line while others like Barbarbon in Little Bay, Indigo Bay Estates, and Caravanserai are under construction.
Properties, such as The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa and Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, offer the island exposure via the marketing coverage of their brand. Existing properties acquiring recognised brands and to attract more brand names to the island were suggested in the island’s ten-year Tourism Master Plan (TourMap).
Attracting more stay over visitors has always encountered a barrier: insufficient marketing money to partner with airlines, magazines and other promotional ventures. Government’s dire financial position has affected tourism marketing significantly over the year.
St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) has been upfront with calls of more marketing money. A clear indication of how lack of funding is affecting the island’s stay over market was given by tour operators, wholesalers and travel agents at the sixth annual St. Maarten/St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART) in May.
Attendees commented at SMART that the island is almost invisible to vacationers scouting for new places to explore.
Timeshare owners and exchanges are the bulk of the annual stay over visitors.
