Island featured in Wall
Street Journal Travel
PHILIPSBURG--Enlisting the assistance of News Corp Head Rupert Murdoch is already yielding results for the island’s visibility in the United States, according to Tourism Commissioner Roy Marlin.
The first of a series of articles on the island appeared recently in The Wall Street Journal travel section. This exposure is impressive as the newspaper has a circulation base of 2.7 million with some 931,000 paying online subscribers, the commissioner said.
The Travel Page identified St. Maarten as a “must visit” destination. Titled “Off the Beaten Track,” writer Darren Everson advises readers to rent a car to see the 37-square-mile island at its best. “And it’s a winding, hilly, worthy drive.”
“Shoppers and foodies will prefer the French side, particularly the seaside town of Marigot; the Dutch end has a livelier nightlife, which includes numerous casinos. Beaches and snorkelling spots (and nude sunbathers) abound, including Ilet Pinel, a tiny island off the northeast coast that requires a five-minute boat ride to reach,” Everson added.
The article also gives recommendations on places to dine and choosing accommodations. This article is only the beginning of the cooperation with News Corp. A special section featuring St. Maarten is in the works for which travel writers will be sent to the island to experience the destination.
According to the Journal, 96 per cent of its readers takes action on news or feature items.
