New non-stop link with St. Thomas promoted.
PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB) has stepped up efforts to promote travel between St. Maarten and St. Thomas following the launch of Contour Airlines’ non-stop service on October 5, seeking to strengthen ties between the neighbouring islands and encourage leisure travel, family visits and business exchanges.
The direct connection between St. Maarten (SXM) and St. Thomas (STT), re-established after more than 20 years, offers new opportunities for residents, visitors and business associates to travel between the two destinations. The service also provides options for weekend getaways, longer vacations and regional business trips.
Following the inaugural ceremonies in both destinations, STB conducted a series of promotional activities in St. Thomas aimed at raising awareness of the new route and highlighting St. Maarten’s tourism offerings.
Organised by STB’s Caribbean Agent, IMBRACE Group, the campaign included media interviews, outreach to travel agencies, direct engagement with residents and meetings with United States Virgin Islands (USVI) tourism officials.
The media tour featured radio interviews with Jacqueline Louis, CEO of IMBRACE Group and Caribbean Agent for STB, and Claudia Arrindell, STB’s Marketing and Product Development Officer.
The interviews showcased St. Maarten’s culinary experiences, festivals, cultural heritage, beaches, shopping and adventure activities. They also highlighted the island’s role in business and socio-economic development, as well as its position as a gateway for island-hopping and wider regional and international travel.
The campaign aimed to reach audiences in St. Thomas directly and encourage them to consider St. Maarten for holidays, visits and business opportunities.
STB also visited multiple travel agencies in St. Thomas to promote the new non-stop service and encourage agents to develop vacation packages tailored to their customers.
Discussions covered a range of travel options, including short weekend getaways, week-long holidays, family visits, event-related travel, leisure trips and business travel.
The direct service operates on Mondays and Fridays, providing additional options for travellers between the two islands.
The promotional campaign also included direct engagement with residents at various locations throughout St. Thomas.
The team distributed promotional materials and shared information to inspire residents to visit St. Maarten, connecting awareness of the destination with practical travel opportunities offered by the new air service.
Regional collaboration was another focus of the campaign, with meetings involving USVI tourism officials in St. Thomas and St. John.
The discussions explored opportunities for cross-promotions, joint marketing campaigns and cross-cultural exchanges. The aim was to showcase the distinct characteristics and tourism offerings of each destination while encouraging residents and visitors to experience more of the Caribbean.
STB said the activities reflect its commitment to supporting airlift through targeted promotion, engagement with travel industry professionals and regional partnerships.
The bureau also aims to build on the momentum generated by the route’s launch through continued collaboration with Contour Airlines, travel partners and tourism stakeholders in the USVI.
The broader objective is to turn increased awareness of the connection into more visits, stronger business relationships and lasting social, cultural and economic ties between the neighbouring islands.
