~ Tourism Ministry clarifies details ~
PHILIPSBURG--A number of tourism stakeholders have expressed satisfaction as well as hesitance to become too excited after the recent announcement of a foundation which, once incorporated by Government as an independent governing body, will become the long-awaited St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA).
The general consensus seemed to be that the foundation's incorporation was a welcome step in the right direction. However, most stakeholders approached by The Daily Herald said it was too early to form a solid opinion and they would have to see what really would become of it. The scepticism stems from positive developments in the past that failed to materialise.
The balance of power between public and private sectors also was questioned, along with why only the St. Maarten Harbour Holding Company and Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company had signed the incorporating documents, as well as who would be part of the board.
Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Chef de Cabinet Ludwig Ouenniche, who along with TEATT Minister Ted Richardson was present for the foundation's incorporation, provided more details on behalf of the Ministry.
The harbour and airport were chosen to sign the incorporating documents for practical reasons, said Ouenniche.
After TEATT explored several avenues for the establishment process, "it was unanimously determined that the fastest way to have the foundation established is to have two private sector partners to establish it. The choice of the harbour and the airport was solely based on their vital importance in the tourism industry, as they are our main ports of entry."
This does not officially give them any priority over other Supervisory Board members. However, as the incorporators, they had the advantage of choosing the Interim Director, the board's first member.
The first board consists of one member, who will serve as Interim Director. The harbour and airport, which were assigned to do so as the foundation's incorporators, chose Jaap van Duinkerken, currently a senior policy advisor for TEATT.
Additional members who may be appointed to the Board in the future will be appointed by the TEATT Minister, with the understanding that at least one will be a civil servant of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau.
Concerning structure, Ouenniche said that before deciding on the set-up, "lengthy consultations were carried with the Legal Department, the Minister, legal counsels and with the notary.... So from that perspective, all legal measuring sticks were used and studied."
Five members were chosen for the Supervisory Council, including St. Maarten's main industry players who are "directly involved in the tourism marketing, both logistically and financially." Having a larger board – although it may seem that in this way, there would be more "equal partners" – would delay the decision-making process.
Nonetheless, the Advisory Committee is described as equally important. Members will advise the Supervisory Council in all matters. The Committee will convene prior to every Supervisory Council meeting. It also can attend these meetings and participate in discussions, but not vote.
The choice of representatives for the six-member Committee was made to maximise involvement of stakeholders across the tourism industry and to provide balance. The committee includes private and public entities, and one French-side representative.
Committee members will be appointed by St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry, St. Maarten Small Properties Association, St. Maarten Marine Trade Association, an entity representing retailers in St. Maarten (during the period such entity does not exist, by the Indian Merchants Association), the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and the Tourist Office of French St. Martin.
The fifth and final Supervisory Board member who has yet to be appointed will be selected by the Minister and will represent the Government. The others represent private sector associations St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association and the St. Maarten Timeshare Association, and Government-owned companies the harbour and the airport.
Nominations from all parties, including the Ministry, should be submitted within 60 days of the foundation's incorporation, which took place on August 19. However, it is advised that they be made "as soon as possible so the groundwork is done prior to the upcoming 2015 Season."
In response to questions about the timing of the Foundation's incorporation, Ouenniche said the process had been in the works for months and the then-upcoming elections never had been considered. In response to concern about a change in Ministers, he responded, "Government is about continuity and it does not matter when, once commitments are honoured and followed."
The very first task of the STA Foundation will be to "establish clear Rules of Procedures that will determine in detail the functioning of the Foundation" and "the establishment of a comprehensive 5-year Marketing Plan."
The majority of funding will be sourced through the Government Marketing Fund, which will be channelled in the form of a subsidy; the SHTA's Dollar-a-Day programme; and the timeshare tax by the timeshare association. Other representatives also will have the possibility to channel their marketing funds through the STA.
