Tourism Office Discusses Airlift With British Airways And Virgin Atlatic
St. Martin Tourism Office President Daniel Gibbs said at a press conference that recent negotiations with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic over possible direct flights from London to St. Maarten in the future have been well received. "If those airlines go to Antigua and Barbados, then why not St. Maarten?" argued Gibbs. "Potentially it's a very good client base for us. At least if we could have one flight or a stopover added to BA's Antigua flight, that's something. "I explained for connections to Tortola and St. Kitts it's easier to have their hub here. They don't have new aircraft to put on our route yet, but it may be possible to re-route an aircraft from one of the other islands where they have up to three flights per day." Negotiations will continue with the airlines at the end of 2007 or early in 2008, he added.
Gibbs, who recently returned from a trade show in London, said the buying power of Europe with the current exchange advantages is very attractive for the destination and more emphasis would be put into that market. "We have a lot of work to do in the European market. I think we have been forgotten there.
Take the wealthy Russian market, which is very interesting too. But the problem is visas, which is a hurdle we have to get over. If we can solve the visa issues we could have a tremendous capacity here for tourism." Gibbs said it was important not to forget the North American market that still provided the island's core base of regular clients, but it was equally important to explore new markets too. "You have to analyze the potential of that market even if it's not booming yet, but it's better to be on the inside track, and not the outside, when it does boom."
Hotel association AHSM Secretary General Philippe Thevenet gave a report on the FIT 2007 trade show held in Argentina November 17-20 where St. Martin was represented. Thevenet explained Argentina was another excellent market for St. Martin due that country's spending power and sophisticated tastes that compared well with the finer points St. Martin had to offer.
In other developments, Gibbs said the Commission for Exterior Promotion had been reorganized and changes included reinforcing traditional markets, optimizing operations with the private sector, redefining collaboration with the Dutch side, and rationalizing the representation in exterior markets.
As far as airlift is concerned, progress has been made in securing several charter flights. These include Aserca in Venezuela, Spirit Airlines, Jet Blue, TUI Arkefly, and the launching of Air Caraibes flights to Panama and Costa Rica. "It's not just about the airlift, it's also about the costly organization and promotion behind it to keep those people here at the destination," Gibbs reminded.
Asked about the Tourism Office budget, he said it was time the department rose above the accepted budgets of previous years if the island really wanted to have the best possible representation in the different markets. "There's no other solution than to give the Tourism Office a respectable budget to apply its policies and that's what we are looking for in 2008."
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