During last week’s 2026 budget debate in Parliament several plans were announced to raise government’s revenue by targeting international guests. Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Patrice Gumbs (PFP) suggested a visitor environmental fee to fund waste management reforms (see Monday’s newspaper).
Other proposals mentioned by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten and Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs (both DP) include an entry tax and increasing room tax. The premise is that tourists should contribute more to public services and facilities.
That may be true, but they are not always to blame. Because government is yet to find an effective way to collect taxes from the growing short-term vacation rental market, foreign homeowners who are not registered taxpayers in St. Maarten can make money with their local property tax-free.
Important to remember is that the island and its tourism economy depend on people coming here for holidays. Introducing too many extra related costs especially at the same time could discourage some from doing so.
So while the reasoning behind these ideas is understandable, one must remain careful not to kill the proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs, or in this case drive it elsewhere. Also keep in mind that delivering bad news is usually best spread out rather than concentrated.
