Hopefully, this does not turn into one of those “too good to be true” stories, but the proposed 5-star hotel at Indigo Bay is at the very least a welcome sign of continued confidence in the future.
A group of people are no doubt against the idea, among them probably some environmentalists.
To be sure, it also involves residential buildings, while other ventures announced as “hotels” later turned out to be condos. Either way, most of these types of developments do not target mainly locals but rather affluent international guests, often repeat visitors who stay on the island part of the year.
The fact that US citizens may now do so for six instead of just three consecutive months due to the Dutch/American Friendship Treaty is helpful in that sense and an advantage St. Maarten can exploit, despite the devastating blows dealt to its tourism economy by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the current coronavirus-related crisis.
There are several other ongoing real estate projects eyeing the same market for a reason. The persons behind them including potential financiers obviously still believe in the destination.
St. Maarten needs to improve its business climate and become more investor-friendly in the process. That depends on not only government, but also the inhabitants.
Take the Alegria issue. It is one thing to oppose a dolphinarium or even aquarium and a breakwater that might alter the natural flow water and sand at popular Maho Beach, but if – for example – a non-invasive wooden pier is needed to moor yachts, this could be considered, as was done for other developments on Simpson Bay Lagoon and elsewhere, so the planned resort at Beacon Hill has a better chance of yet fully becoming reality.
Similarly, although resident Steve Johnson undoubtedly has solid motives for his legal battle against the manner in which a building permit was issued for Planet Hollywood on Great Bay Beach, one would hope reasonable compromise remains possible so the all-inclusive property is not lost altogether.
Know what happened to the would-be-bride who thought none of her suitors was good enough? She never married.
When you say “no” to everything, you usually end up with nothing.
