PHILIPSBURG--Aviareps, a full-service agency located in the Netherlands that specializes in marketing, sales, advertising and promotion in the tourism, hospitality, aviation and trade sectors, has been selected from a public bid to be the country’s marketing firm in Benelux, the grouping of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg.
Aviareps will now be responsible for the destination marketing, trade advertising, social media/website content development, branding and public relations activities for St. Maarten in the Benelux Market, according to a press statement from Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Ingrid Arrindell.
“We look forward to promoting the destination in the coming years, together with the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and their partners, as a preferred vacation destination for many in the Benelux,” said Martijn Strijker, General Manager of Aviareps Benelux.
The appointment of Aviareps is expected to have an immediate positive effect on the total number of visitors to the island, which can be attributed to their experience, their expertise, and their extensive network of affiliates, together with the already existing demand and interest to visit the island from the Benelux Market.
Most of the population in the target market is multi-lingual and they are by nature frequent, and thus experienced world travellers. Added to that is the fact that employed staff in those countries are entitled to over 25 paid vacation days annually, and receive a vacation allowance in the month of May and June. This would make it even more financially feasible for those employees to visit St. Maarten during those months, which represents part of our off-season, a time when we most need to increase our visitor arrivals.
Airlines such as KLM, TUI and Air France are already collectively servicing the island with frequent, direct flights from Amsterdam and Paris, making the island easily accessible.
St. Maarten Tourist Bureau will be forging a closer marketing partnership with KLM and TUI in order to increase airlift from the Netherlands.
With the cooperation between St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, Aviareps and the airlines, the total number of visitors to St. Maarten from the Benelux market is expected to increase substantially, which will have a great economic impact for the island.
“The Benelux market remains one of our key source markets. Having Aviareps on board as our tourism marketing representative will have many value-added benefits that will further develop our involvement and presence in the European market, ultimately helping us to achieve our goal of increasing the brand awareness within that market and bringing more visitors to our Island,” stated Arrindell.
