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Published On: Thu, Dec 14th, 2017

“We have to improve our tourism product”

PHILIPSBURG – Finance Minister Richard Gibson stepped into the shoes of Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Mellissa Arrindell-Doncher on Wednesday with a passionate address about the needs of St. Maarten’s tourism industry. On Tuesday, the minister already announced in Parliament a provision of 8 million guilders for the training of hospitality workers.

During a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, he went all out about the changes that are necessary to maintain competitive as a tourism destination.

“For years our tourism economy has shown a downward trend. So what can we do? It is easy to figure out what tourists need and what they come looking for. We have been blessed with sun, sea and sand but so have many other islands in the Caribbean. We need something more. Other islands are offering the same, so people have more places to go to. We need something that excels; we have to be better than others. Tourists want better service and an environment that is attractive from the tourists’ point of view.”

Minister Gibson mentioned “a diverse cuisine as we used to have before” as one suggestion. “You give them what they want and they will come. We have to improve our tourism product.”

Training hospitality workers, as stmaartennews.com reported earlier this week, is part and parcel of that improved product. Minister Gibson wants to see that program run for ten months, saying that several hotels will be back in business by the middle of next year.

“But training is not enough,” he continued. The strip in Simpson Bay from the Tropicana Casino to the airport has to be improved. That has to become a showcase of our tourism product. Right now it is shameful. If there is a shower tourists have to walk on the road to avoid puddles. We have to fix that.”

And here is more: “We also have to fix the traffic. Nothing is more vexing than leaving New York City to come here and find yourself in traffic jams that are probably worse than those in New York.”

Tourists also want exposure to local culture and history, Minister Gibson said. “Fort Amsterdam should be a premier location for shows that could attract tours from cruise ships. Peter Stuyvesant, the former mayor of New York, lost a leg in a battle that took place there. I can see the brochures: come and see how Peter Stuyvesant lost his leg in Little Bay.”

In terms of local cuisine, Minister Gibson mentioned Yvette’s Kitchen as a good example.

“All this is what I call building St. Maarten back stronger and better, and making the island more competitive. The cruise industry would welcome all this. We have a lot of work to do and it is not gonna be easy but there are opportunities. With hard work and sound management and decision making I think that we can make a big improvement in the way forward.”