Last Thursday’s report on recent talks between Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) and St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) about home-porting was interesting. They evaluated advantages and challenges after three years of expanding this product.
Most hotels agreed that it was especially helpful during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on travel. Passengers and crew flown in one or more days prior to the cruise or departing a day or more following its return at the time filled hotel rooms that would otherwise have remained empty.
However, examples of other destinations show they barely spend time there and those who stay overnight tend to do so only one day per week. This may even block space that could be booked for longer periods by regular visitors.
In addition, the practice puts an extra strain on logistics and infrastructure. The latter is very relevant locally, considering the already congested traffic and airport still under reconstruction.
What makes it worse is that both stay-over and cruise tourists prefer to start their holidays in weekends, thus competing for available airlift and accommodations during the busiest periods. Nevertheless, one should not have to exclude the other.
The harbour company that obviously benefits from home-porting tries its best to avoid such situations and have these visitors remain on-island longer. That and spreading peaks of demand for plane seats throughout the week as stated indeed seems the way to go, rather than discouraging the activity altogether.
After all, it has proven worthwhile when fewer regular guests were coming. Other related business opportunities like provisioning the ships as well as road transport for occupants and their luggage back and forth must also be kept in mind.
There are clearly pros and cons, but with a balanced approach this does not have to be an “either or” matter.
