~ Final selection announcement soon ~
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA) will soon have its first director, according to Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Irania Arrindell.
The new director will be selected before the end of July which will be followed by a screening process. The director is expected to be appointed by September.
Twelve persons applied for the top position last month and only three made it to the second interviews, which were conducted last week.
The STA’s purpose is to assist temporarily in carrying out the tourism policy of the Government of St. Maarten as a tourist destination; to support the growth of St. Maarten’s land- and sea-based tourism by providing the public and private sectors with focused, sustainable and productive marketing; and the enhancement of the visitor experience.
The STA also will assist, guide and direct all matters related to tourism, whether on initiative from the public sector or the private sector. The STA Foundation will execute these tasks until Government has incorporated the STA in the form of a so-called independently-governed body (“Zelfstandig Bestuursorgaan” ZBO), which immediately on its incorporation will be solely responsible for and solely authorised to execute these tasks.
STA will create programmes that will be carried out no matter what government is in office. The members of the Supervisory Council are Chairman Keith Graham representing St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), Jim Rosen representing St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA), Suzy Kartokromo representing Princess Juliana International Airport SXM and Roger Lawrence representing Port St. Maarten.
