
St. Maarten embraces strategic development goals – with words
PHILIPSBURG — The United Nations has made good intentions its core business, or so it seems. Case in point is the twelve strategic development goals (SDG) it formulated during a conference in Rio de Janeiro More...

Discontinue with EHAS
Dear Editor, A letter written by SHTA to the authorities responsible for tourism is on the mark as it pertains to the EHAS. I don’t think the person(s) responsible for tourism keeps up to date with the advancement More...

Cdr. Bud Slabbaert and the search for St. Maarten’s unique selling point
PHILIPSBURG — In his article ‘Positioning a Caribbean tourism destination’ Cdr. Bud Slabbaert basically points out that a destination must have a unique selling point; in other words, offer something More...

Tourism remains the focal point of St. Maarten’s economy
PHILIPSBURG — Making St. Maarten less dependent on tourism? But how? That is the headline above an article published on the website of the Dutch newspaper NRC. The author, Denise Retera, poses the question More...

EXCLUSIVE: “Tourism industry exceeds carrying capacity”
~ Review Thesis of Arjen Alberts: “Tourism industry exceeds carrying capacity” ~ PHILIPSBURG – “I will show that Small Islands Tourism Economies not only exceeded their carrying capacity but also no longer More...

Think ahead
An interesting question was posed today on Facebook. The poster wanted to know how the Shutdown in the USA, the Yellow Vests issues in France and the Russian bombers in Venezuela might affect our one pillar economy. A More...

Minister Johnson kicks off SXM Airport regional hub improvement plan with visit to Saba
PHILIPSBURG — Tourism Minister for St. Maarten, the honourable Stuart Johnson, traveled to Saba on Monday for several meetings to discuss the solidifying of St. Maarten’s hub function relationship with More...

Caribbean aviation taxes may cause economic strangulation
by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert If an airport in the Caribbean wishes to be an international hub, or even a regional hub, it is probably well advised to drop departure taxes and other passenger taxes. Passenger taxation is More...

The big To-Do about failing Caribbean airlift
by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert In past three weeks, politicians and industry leaders at a number of summits in the Caribbean have expressed the urgent need for better air connections and more reasonable prices. Sorry folks. More...

Port St. Maarten sees 15 percent growth in cruise passenger numbers so far for 2018
PORT ST. MAARTEN — Port St. Maarten Management is very pleased with the recent cruise passenger numbers and has seen a growth of 15 per cent over projections so far for 2018 (January to June). Management expects More...