Hikes in air arrivals of 23% and cruise visitors of 18% (see Friday/Saturday edition) for the first three months of 2026 compared to the same period last year spell good news. They also prove St. Maarten’s tourism has completed its recovery from major setbacks Hurricane Irma and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current figures from the Department of Statistics STAT don’t distinguish incoming travellers at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) on their way to the French side or other islands. Nevertheless, a rise by 57,824 or almost a quarter to 314,765 is impressive to say the least.
Keep in mind that an increasing number of stay in short term vacation rentals, so local resorts don’t see the full amount translated into bookings. Still, the people involved are here and spending money, so the destination does benefit from their presence.
While North America (67.9%) and the European Union (24.4%) continue to be the biggest airline passenger source regions, the Caribbean and Latin America with respectively 3.2% (9,946) and 2.7% (8,588) of the total show potential. The latter rose by approximately 1,700 from January up to an including March.
That’s important, because a recent trends report of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and Amadeus concluded that the area is entering a new strategic phase due to a surge in demand from Central and South America by 24% year-over-year. Countries like Peru and Argentina have been showing significant growth, while Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Venezuela are expected to do the same.
Diversifying the tourism product remains key to a stable economy and making it less dependent on just one or a few markets. That’s true in a geographical but also seasonal sense, since guests from south of the equator are not tied as much to traditional Northern Hemisphere wintertime holidays.
More business in normally slow periods is helpful for job security and consequently the community’s social fabric. Most needed at this point is not necessarily many more guests, but a better spread.
