The 17th St. Maarten/St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART) is taking place at Simpson Bay Resort this week. According to organisers, it has grown into the biggest tourism trade show of the northeastern Caribbean.
They foresee the largest buyer and walk-around delegations of the series to date, while “supplier” and “vendor” booths have again been filled. Participants from close to 30 countries are expected.
The latter says it all: This is a chance to not just stimulate travel within the region, but attract attention from different potential source markets elsewhere. Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) – particularly its hub function – as well as local airline Winair and others stand to benefit too.
It’s been said before, but diversification also remains possible within the tourism economy. Depending less on traditional North American and Western European stay-over visitors can enhance the island’s resilience.
For one thing, people from other areas of the world may vacation more often at other times of the year than winter in the Northern Hemisphere. That could reduce the dominant hospitality industry’s seasonality, with obvious socioeconomic advantages such as steady, preferably year-round employment and all that goes with it. In that sense, SMART offers an important stage for islands in the area to address sustainability while promoting their related products and services.
All involved in hosting the event deserve credit for keeping it going – albeit with a few pauses due mainly to the September 2017 hurricanes and COVID-19 pandemic – for 25 years and counting. It takes dedication and perseverance to build up most worthwhile things, including a solid reputation.
