POND ISLAND--Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (TEATT) Minister Stuart Johnson has hit the ground running by meeting with tourism stakeholders to learn their challenges post-Hurricane Irma and how they envision government's role in turning around the economy.
Johnson said in his first Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday the recovery of Princess Juliana International Airport and completing the United States immigration and customs pre-clearence are at the top of his agenda.
Preparing the way for those priorities and others, the first-time minister has held meetings with the ministry's secretary-general and department heads.
Stakeholders sessions are slated to continue with Johnson planning to meet the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry, St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA), St. Maarten Small Properties Association and others.
The promotion of the destination to (re)attract tourists is paramount, but "a lot of issues are local," Johnson said. Those issues include cleaning up the shore and coastlines as well as Simpson Bay Lagoon together with the Ministry of Environment and Infrastructure VROMI.
Johnson also plans to meet with the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) to ensure the celebration of the country's 50th carnival is well executed.
