Summer arrival totals published in Monday’s paper were encouraging. Peak month July even saw an increase of two per cent from pre-pandemic 2019.
It’s therefore safe to say St. Maarten did quite well considering the still-ongoing COVID-19 crisis. This is especially true for the United States as the destination’s main source market.
The numbers in September, traditionally the slowest period at the height of tropical cyclone activity, will most likely not approach those of the last three months. However, there is every reason to believe the strong recovery may continue in October and November, also known as “shoulder season.”
Take the return of tourism from Canada, which is yet to begin in earnest. Sunwing has announced weekly non-stop flights from Toronto and Montreal starting respectively September 30 and November 3, while Air Canada initiates twice-weekly service out of Toronto on December 18.
There was another story in the Monday edition about eliminating the banned travel list per October 1. Although sharp entrance requirements are being put in place for visitors from these countries, including a negative PCR test within 48 hours prior to departure even for vaccinated passengers and 24 hours for unvaccinated ones, it means they are at least able to come again.
This also effectively reopens Central and South America, with Copa Airlines scheduled to resume its connecting flights via Panama City at the end of November. It is important to provide an adequate promotional effort to back that development as well.
If the COVID-19 situation on the island can be kept under control so it is seen as a relatively safe vacation spot, the much-needed socioeconomic rebound could occur sooner than realised by many.
