Today’s news that Sunwing Vacations will offer weekly summer packages to St. Maarten from Vancouver for the first time is obviously most welcome. The importance of Canadian tourism to the dual destination has grown steadily over the years.
Officials in Marigot reported at the end of June 2015 that this market was up 13 per cent on the French side during the first four months of that year, compared to 10 per cent during the same period in 2014. The number of visitors from Canada to the Dutch side also increased strongly by 14.2 per cent over the first three quarters of 2014.
Regularly expanding airlift from Toronto and Montreal no doubt played a huge role in that positive development. Connecting with Vancouver should enhance the prospects even more.
Perhaps equally significant is that the new service will be from May 18 to August 24, when it’s relatively quiet in terms of guests coming from abroad. This would provide a helpful boost for the economically-difficult low season.
The latter also should promote year-round rather than seasonal employment, which is a major drawback of the hospitality industry when it comes to the social fabric of a community. Knowing one only has work for a limited time is not exactly conducive to achieving a stable society.
Canadians are attracted to the all-inclusive concept, something of which several resorts both North and South of the border are already making good use. Keep in mind, just because they usually eat on the property does not mean they won’t spend money while here.
The Northeast of North America traditionally has been the main source market of “The Friendly Island,” but it concerned particularly the tri-state area of the US. However, Canada is now proving to be an excellent added value.
