Although not quite over until King Momo burns next Tuesday at midnight, it’s safe to say that up to now the Golden Anniversary Carnival met – if not exceeded – expectations. The main parades and jump-ups included plenty of revellers, while attendance at the various shows in Carnival Village is said to generally have been quite good.
That’s no wonder considering it was the 50th edition, but the proof of the pudding had still been in the eating. No numbers are – yet – available, but by all indications more visitors than usual came from elsewhere, particularly within the greater Caribbean, to experience this milestone.
There are always some problems, of course, such as in this case issues with costumes of various troupes. Perhaps the larger numbers this year played a role, but group leaders must obviously meet their commitments if they are to be taken seriously in the future.
Noteworthy was that relatively few incidents of serious violence and/or disturbances during the festivities were reported. If Carnival is to be considered an important tourist attraction, the safety of both participants and spectators remains paramount.
And there can be little doubt that the Dutch side’s maximum cultural celebration draws quite a crowd from abroad, as do other events with a strong cross-border appeal like the Heineken Regatta and – as of late – the St. Martin Music Festival on the French side, but also, for example, the recent regional cricket tournament held in St. Maarten. Along with international conferences, congresses and meetings, these activities help promote incentive travel to the destination.
Provided there is an adequate level of security, they are thus most welcome additions to the product that is “The Friendly Island” and its strong hospitality industry.
