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Labega: Diversity drives island’s tourism industry
by The Daily Herald
Posted: Nov 3, 2009 14:55 UTC
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~ Today is Caribbean Tourism Day ~
PHILIPSBURG - On the occasion of Caribbean Tourism Day, Head of the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau Regina Labega said the character and make-up of St. Maarten perfectly ties in with this year’s theme: “Tourism: Celebrating Diversity.”
Labega said as a destination solely dependant on tourism, it is important for the general population to acknowledge this fact and to recognize that by definition the Caribbean represents diversity and nowhere this is more reflected than in St. Maarten.
“Diversity is, indeed, what drives our tourism industry. Our tourism product offers such a wide range that it makes it possible for us to cater to all kinds of visitors from every part of the world. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the latest survey, carried out by the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), ranked St. Maarten number one in the region concerning passenger satisfaction,” she said.
Labega said there can be no question about the significant role St. Maarten has to play in the sustainable development of the region, while on the other hand the contribution of Caribbean visitors to the island’s economic development cannot be underestimated.
She explained that since 2005 the Tourism Master Plan (TourMap) has established the fact that visitors from the Caribbean outspend all others, surpassing the average daily expenditure by over 30 per cent. “That is why the Island Government remains committed to increasing its efforts to attract more Caribbean visitors to St. Maarten, in spite of the hurdles it has to scale. Our new branding strategy, launched recently, will expectedly reposition the island in the Caribbean market more favourably,” she said.
She went on to say it may be a coincidence that Caribbean Tourism Day falls just about a week before St. Maarten/St Martin Day, but given the character of the island, it is appropriate that the two celebrations follow each other so closely.
She said this is not only because St. Maarten was rated the number one destination in the Caribbean last year by TripAdvisor, the world’s most influential online travel Website, but also due to the fact that the destiny of the island lies squarely within the Caribbean region.
“And although our Caribbean vocation might not always be as evident as it ought to be, it is clear that our brothers and sisters in this hemisphere feel at home in St. Maarten, while St. Maarteners cherish their Caribbean identity,” Labega said.
“In this regard, suffice it to point to the fact that St. Maarteners love all things Caribbean, whether it is the music, the food, or sports, where cricket – that quintessential Caribbean identifier – has been witnessing an exciting renaissance. That is why Brian Lara is as much a household name in his native Trinidad as he is in St. Maarten. That is why Usain Bolt, though Jamaican, is as much beloved here in St. Maarten,” she added.
What binds St. Maarten to the Caribbean, she continued, is much more than the island’s membership in regional tourism organizations such as the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and what binds the Caribbean to St. Maarten is much more than sun, sea and sand.
“History, geography and culture place us firmly at the centre of the Caribbean family. Happy Caribbean Tourism Day,” Labega concluded.
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