It’s obviously not good news that the Canadian government is warning citizens to be cautious about going to Caribbean destinations affected by Hurricane Irma (see related article). St. Maarten/St. Martin was specifically mentioned in the updated travel advisory.
Among the issues is that passengers are still processed in “wedding-style tents” used as temporary facilities at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) due to the damaged terminal. Most large resorts and several restaurants on both sides of the island remain closed too.
Readers should keep in mind that people are not being told to stay away altogether, but rather to take care. The reality is also that with visitor accommodations where the majority of Canadians normally stay yet to reopen, there aren’t that many coming at least by plane now anyway.
Concerning airlift, WestJet resumed service from Canada on April 29, while Air Transat will again start four months of winter flights out of Toronto and Montreal just before Christmas. Air Canada expects to get back to its seasonal schedule as well.
Sunwing is looking at next year, which of course makes sense, as it owns the former Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel that is currently being demolished. A new 450-room Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino will reportedly be built there and possibly open in June 2019. If true, the latter is important, because it brings a “big new player” into the local hospitality industry and strongly suggests continued confidence in the product.
The same can be said of a recent revelation by Deputy Prime Minister Emil Lee after attending the Caribbean Hotel and Resorts Investment Summit (CHRIS) in that capacity. He mentioned meeting with representatives of Hilton “who are currently flagging a property on St. Maarten.”
The lack of brand-name international chains like that has often been cited as one of the island’s shortcomings. The Apple Leisure Group’s apparent interest in a management contract in the country is therefore equally welcome.
However, an adequate level of public safety and security is paramount to a full recovery of the tourism economy. Today’s story about the armed robbery of guests in an Oyster Pond villa and related comments on social media are exactly the kind of thing “The Friendly Island” can well do without.
