With so much discouraging news about the latest COVID-19 figures both locally and abroad as well as the pandemic’s ongoing socioeconomic impact, Thursday’s front page photo provided a bit of hope for better days to come.
Passengers of cruise ships – all with proof of vaccination and recently tested – disembarking from a water taxi was a sight for sore eyes. That they were able to freely roam about Philipsburg and the island is also quite unusual at present within the region, because several ports of call currently only permit organised tours and excursions.
Being able to allow such, along with homeporting, gives the destination a competitive edge while the Caribbean cruise sector attempts to recover. The pro-active approach in this regard particularly by outgoing Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Ludmila de Weever is likely to continue paying off in the future.
There are still challenges, including an ongoing legal battle between the US cruise lines and the governor of Florida over requiring all passengers to vaccinate, but there can be little doubt the industry is on its way back. De Weever’s successor will do well to keep a close eye on developments.
