Two tourism-related articles caught the attention in the past few days. The first (see Monday newspaper) regards the reopening of the Simpson Bay Immigration Office.
The facility was apparently rendered unusable by recent heavy rainfall. With the regular desks still under repair at the time, clearance services were temporarily relocated down the hall to ensure operations could be resumed without delay.
The importance of this to the yachts arriving in large numbers for the season, their crews and guests, cannot be overstated. St. Maarten Marine Trade Association (SMMTA) expressed gratitude for the community’s patience and support during the closure.
Secondly, it is reported elsewhere in this edition that the Inspectorate of Economic and Transport Affairs (IETA) reminds all taxi- and tour bus drivers transporting cruise passengers to prioritise their timely return to the harbour. The advisory is especially relevant for operators travelling from areas such as Maho, Marigot and Simpson Bay at late afternoon hours when traffic congestion typically intensifies on Airport Boulevard and beyond.
While ships certainly want to avoid leaving passengers behind in port where possible, they must also consider their itineraries, onboard schedules and other passengers. There is thus only so long they will wait before departure.
These are both practical but nevertheless essential issues to help maintain the island’s reputation as premier cruise- and yachting destination. They serve as simple examples of how getting on top is one thing, staying there quite another. The latter requires constant attention and dedication, quickly adapting to new circumstances and sometimes even going beyond the call of duty.
