The reopening of Oyster Bay Beach Resort (see related story) is another welcome sign that the dominant hospitality industry is slowly but surely recovering. The more than 80 units now in use represent only about half the total inventory, but work on the rest will be completed by year’s end.
Very positive news is that most of the rooms on offer were occupied by guests right away. Some availability remains for the next months, but the summer and fall seasons are said to be “filling up quickly.”
The significance of the latter should not be underestimated. If a major visitor accommodation like OBBR can achieve relatively high occupancy rates during the normally quiet period ahead, others should be able to do so as well.
The reality is that under the present socioeconomic circumstances every “head in bed’ counts perhaps more than ever. While the cruise sector thankfully rebounded very strongly, stayover tourism is still the island’s main source of income.
For that same reason, continued concern over Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) is completely justified. A good job was done with the current temporary facility, but ultimately the terminal will be badly needed again to adequately handle increased passenger traffic once the volume returns to previous levels.
In addition, it reportedly takes several days each to both dismantle and reassemble the pavilion tents serving as arrival and departure halls. This means that in case of approaching storms the airport could be closed at least for commercial flights an entire week or even longer, with all possible consequences.
Parliament is tentatively scheduled to discuss the airport in a Central Committee meeting on Tuesday at the request of coalition members. While there is a settlement dispute with the government-owned company’s insurer to be heard by the court on June 19, it’s important to know what can be done to speed up the rebuilding process pending the outcome of that legal battle.
Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin is on record stating construction work won’t take place until after the hurricane season ends on November 30, while some even suggest next year. At this point, if there is any responsible way to start earlier, that ought to be seriously considered.
