A decision of the Collectivité to grant exceptional support of 2,000 euros per room to French-side guesthouses (see Friday paper) will no doubt be appreciated by their proprietors. It’s also good news for the entire island.
After all, there had been concerns that things weren’t moving fast enough on the French side and St. Maarten/St. Martin is very much seen as one destination. Guests being able to freely venture across the open border to technically find themselves in a whole other country is an important part of the attraction.
This latest development came after the recent extension of the “partial activity” assistance and increasing its annual quota for businesses to be compensated for each employee from 1,000 to 1,600 hours per year. To get an idea of the latter’s magnitude, it so far allowed no fewer than 705 companies and 5,404 workers to benefit at a total cost of 26.5 million euros.
In addition, mobility aid is being allocated to high school and university students, 70 per cent when signing the agreement for such and the rest on receiving the supporting documents. It’s clear that a concerted effort is being made in Marigot to keep the local tourism economy going during this difficult period.
While the Dutch side has no comparable allowances, the St. Maarten Small Properties Association (SMSPA) was given a NAf. 40,000 subsidy to market and promote its members. The group also asked for help with low interest loans, tax holidays and cuts, as well as skill-building training, and hopes to tap into government’s roof-repair programme too.
People who are dead-set against using public funds for the private sector should keep in mind that these are extraordinary circumstances. It’s not about just “giving them a bunch of money,” but providing affordable and feasible financing options with a suitable grace period to tide employers – and consequently their personnel – over until sales pick up and they can start repaying.
Like it or not, the hospitality industry is ultimately what provides the livelihood of practically the whole population. Restoring visitor accommodations is therefore crucial to getting “The Friendly Island” squarely back on its feet.
