Today is World Tourism Day, when people reflect on the travel business. Especially for an island that depends on visitors for practically all its revenues, doing so is obviously important.
That this year's celebration comes just days before thousands of professionals gather here for the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) conference makes it all the more fitting. After all, this segment of the local hospitality industry has seen spectacular growth over the years and is about to break the two-million-passenger mark.
But, as Harbour Group of Companies CEO Mark Mingo has stated, the achievements so far are certainly no reason to sit back. Our competitors are becoming ever fiercer as they try to emulate that success and get a bigger piece of the pie.
His call to "reinvent cruise St. Maarten" therefore should not fall on deaf ears and to some extent the same can be said about the stay-over sector. The experience of guests in the long run determines the sustainability of any holiday destination.
Up to now "The Friendly Island" has done pretty well in that regard due to its natural beauty, unique character and hospitable inhabitants. However, others are slowly but surely catching up in terms of what they offer concerning accommodations, shopping, tours, attractions, entertainment, etc.
Not only that, but times are changing. While the traditional "sun, sea and sand" concept is still popular, people are spending less time lying on the beach, not in the last place because of advanced knowledge about the risk of skin cancer excessive exposure to solar rays brings.
Travellers generally are becoming increasingly aware also about other countries than their own and looking for something different, including cultural activities and environmentally interesting sights. Mind you, there already are plenty of those things available, but adding new and exciting ingredients where possible every so often helps keep the product lively.
Once the 2014 budget amendments are – finally – approved by Parliament and the purchase of Emilio Wilson Estate (EWE) can be completed it would seem a good idea, apart from conserving it, to create a place worth visiting to get information and a sense of the plantation's history and nature. Something similar might be considered for Mary's Fancy too by its recent buyer, the general pension fund APS.
The argument is not so much for additional building, but that resources and attributes already present could be put to more effective use without necessarily harming them. Besides, as the saying goes: What is good can always get better.
