PHILIPSBURG:--- – The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB) proudly announces the resounding success of its latest destination-themed webinar, “Island Hopping,” held in collaboration with Copa Airlines on Wednesday, February 12. This vibrant and innovative initiative is a shining example of how St. Maarten is elevating its presence in the Latin American (LATAM) market—a key region for the island’s tourism industry and one brimming with untapped potential.

In 2024, St. Maarten welcomed 10,724 visitors from Latin America, a clear sign of the region’s recovery after facing significant challenges in recent years. While this is a step forward, it also highlights the remarkable opportunity for further growth, particularly when compared to 2015, a benchmark year when over 17,300 visitors from Latin America graced St. Maarten. This success was then driven by a robust public relations and marketing presence in the region—something STB is strategically working to reestablish and surpass.

With Copa Airlines offering seamless connectivity from Panama to St. Maarten every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday, St. Maarten is ideally positioned as a gateway for South American travelers to explore not only its pristine beaches and vibrant culture but also the wider Caribbean region through multi-island adventures.

Webinars like “Island Hopping” have become a cornerstone of STB’s innovative marketing strategy. They provide an engaging, cost-effective platform to connect with key travel trade partners, offering a direct line of communication that transcends geographical barriers. This month’s session was a tremendous success, attracting over 300 influential travel agents and tour operators from across Latin America.

"This event was more than just a webinar—it was a celebration of connection and collaboration," shared Luis Hurtault, Marketing Officer for the Latin American Market at STB. "It’s incredible to see so much interest in what St. Maarten has to offer as a premier Caribbean destination. By showcasing our unique appeal alongside our regional partners, we’ve set the stage for even greater achievements in the LATAM market."

The “Island Hopping” webinar featured dynamic presentations from the Office de Tourisme de Saint-Martin, Saba Tourist Bureau, Anguilla Tourist Board, and Aqua Mania Adventures. Together, they painted a vivid picture of the rich and diverse experiences awaiting travelers who use St. Maarten as their central hub for exploration.

Attendees learned how effortlessly they could embark on day trips to Saba, Anguilla, St. Barth, and Saint-Martin, combining the natural beauty and cultural treasures of these islands into a one-of-a-kind Caribbean adventure.

Adding excitement to the event were two exclusive giveaways that captured the spirit of collaboration:
• A complimentary two-night weekend stay at Simpson Bay Resort & Marina, showcasing one of St. Maarten’s premier accommodations.
• A Sunset Sail aboard Aqua Mania Adventures, highlighting the unparalleled nautical experiences the island has to offer.

These prizes not only incentivized participation but also reflected the incredible partnership and hospitality that St. Maarten is renowned for.

The success of the “Island Hopping” webinar is a testament to the power of collaboration in positioning St. Maarten as a leading tourism hub in the region. By working with partners like Copa Airlines and neighboring destinations, STB is ensuring that St. Maarten’s unique offerings are amplified on the global stage.

“At Copa Airlines, we are proud of our ongoing partnership with the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau. Through initiatives like this webinar series and the SMART Tradeshow, we’ve been able to increase awareness and accessibility for South American travelers to St. Maarten and the surrounding islands. With our connectivity to over 80 destinations across the Americas, we are excited to continue strengthening the bridge between St. Maarten and travelers from across the region, further promoting the beauty and culture of this exceptional destination,” said Karen Nanne Prestinary, Regional Sales Manager – Central America and Caribbean.

The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau is calling on local businesses and stakeholders to join its partnership program, which offers unmatched opportunities for co-marketing, increased visibility, and direct access to a vast network of travel agents and tour operators in Latin America and beyond.

"By working together, we can truly make St. Maarten the Caribbean’s ultimate hub for island hopping," said Hurtault. "This webinar is just the beginning, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum with the support of our local and regional partners."

The “Island Hopping” webinar series is just one facet of STB’s commitment to driving sustainable tourism growth while ensuring that every visitor to St. Maarten has an unforgettable experience. With its sights set firmly on the future, STB is dedicated to building partnerships, strengthening its presence in key markets, and delivering innovative solutions to showcase St. Maarten’s unparalleled appeal.

For more information about becoming a partner of the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau or learning about global marketing opportunities, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.vacationstmaarten.com.

Simpson Bay:---  Last week, Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) successfully participated in Routes Americas 2025, an annual event that brings together aviation decision-makers from across the region. The goal of PJIAE’s presence at the event was to attract new and existing airlines to St. Maarten, reinforcing the island’s position as a vital hub for the northeastern Caribbean.
PJIAE was joined by the Minister of TEATT, Ms. Grisha Heyliger-Marten, along with the Tourism Offices of both the French and Dutch sides of St. Maarten, as well as representatives from St. Barth’s Tourism Office and the airport of St. Barths. This collaborative presence showcased a unified effort to promote the island as a premier travel destination and highlighted Sint Maarten’s role as a key gateway to neighboring islands such as Anguilla, St. Barths, Saba, Statia, and Tortola.
May-Ling Chun, Director of the St. Maarten Tourism Board, emphasized the importance of the event:
"The Routes Americas 2025 meetings provided valuable insights into the evolving aviation landscape and highlighted key opportunities for St. Maarten, St. Martin, and St. Barth to further solidify our position as premier Caribbean destinations. Strengthening strategic partnerships, enhancing connectivity, and driving sustainable growth initiatives will be essential in ensuring long-term success in our air service development.
We look forward to working on our next steps, which will involve continued collaboration with SXM Airport, engagement with airline partners, executing agreed-upon action items, and leveraging data-driven decision-making to optimize route performance and destination competitiveness. We remain committed to fostering a dynamic and resilient aviation sector that supports tourism growth and economic prosperity for our region."

Aida Weinum, Director of the St. Martin Tourism Office, echoed this sentiment:
"Our joint presence at this event underscored the strong partnership between the French and Dutch sides of the island. By working together, we further positioned St. Maarten/St. Martin as the ultimate hub in the Caribbean, offering seamless connectivity and a rich, diverse experience for travelers."
Michiel Parent, Commercial Director of PJIAE, also shared his enthusiasm:
"It was a great pleasure to participate in Routes Americas once again. This event provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase our newly reopened terminal building to the world. Since our reopening in November 2024, we have been focused on growing and expanding our network of destinations. Engaging with industry leaders at Routes Americas was invaluable in fostering new partnerships and strengthening existing relationships."
Routes Americas 2025 served as an excellent platform for PJIAE and its partners to present their vision for growth, attract increased connectivity, and further solidify Sint Maarten’s position as the gateway to the Caribbean.

~CBCS and IEDOM to formalize agreement for data exchange~

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:---  Accurate and timely data is crucial for the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) to make informed economic projections and effective monetary policy decisions. This data is gathered from various stakeholders across both Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Recognizing the importance of collaboration, staff from the CBCS’s Monetary Policy, Economics & Statistics (MPE&S) Division recently conducted a series of stakeholder sessions in Sint Maarten and met with their French Caribbean counterparts at Institut d'Émission des Départements d'Outre-Mer (IEDOM). During these sessions, CBCS representatives demonstrated how data is collected, analyzed, and used to support economic forecasts and policymaking for Sint Maarten’s economy.
In the meeting with IEDOM, macroeconomic information and indicators on both sides of the island were exchanged, and collaboration between the CBCS and IEDOM was discussed. The collaboration will enhance the CBCS’ understanding of the complex interplay between the economies of Sint Maarten and Saint Martin, thereby providing more accurate economic analyses and forecasts. This mutual collaboration will also provide the foundation for future economic research on topics particularly relevant to the unique shared and open border between Sint Maarten and Saint Martin. A memorandum of understanding between the two parties will be signed in the coming months.
The MPE&S Division is responsible for compiling key economic data, including monetary and balance of payments statistics, which serve as the foundation for economic estimates and projections. Based on this data, the division publishes the CBCS’s flagship quarterly report, the Economic Bulletin, offering in-depth economic analyses and a medium-term outlook for both Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
The division intends to host stakeholder sessions on a structural basis as it continues to refine and enhance its analytical and data collection capabilities. In addition, a symposium will be held later this year in Sint Maarten focusing specifically on the importance of data and statistics as well as highlighting ongoing economic research.

Willemstad, February 19, 2025
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURACAO EN SINT MAARTEN

Willemstad:---  During recent conversations with the Curaçao Government, the Board of Financial Supervision of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (Cft) insisted that the issues within the Curaçao Tax Authorities must be addressed as soon as possible. Since 2021, the tax income has been increasing, partly due to the compliance measures that have been taken since then. However, there are a number of persistent issues. In order to maintain positive results, professional and honest Tax Authorities are of the utmost importance.

Since taking office in 2021, the Minister of Finance of Curaçao has been working on the improvement of tax compliance. When visiting the Tax Authorities and the Stichting Belastingaccountantsbureau, the Cft discussed the improvement actions within this trajectory. Despite the fact that good results have already been achieved, further professionalization of the Tax Authorities is a requirement to maintain and expand these results.

Reorganization Tax Authorities

In 2024, an investigation of the Stichting Overheidsaccountantsbureau showed that as regards the implementation of tax legislation, there have been cases of undue preferential treatment on the part of the Tax Authorities (Ontvanger). It was also determined that the legal framework is not being complied with. Not only does this affect the trust in the Tax Authorities, but it also carries risks for tax morality. There are advanced plans to reorganize and modernize the Tax Authorities. The CFT urged the Council of Ministers to prioritize this reorganization to the greatest extent possible since honest, transparent Tax Authorities contribute to a financially healthy Curaçao. In this context, the CFT also drew attention to the reform of the tax system. A reform also offers possibilities to increase compliance and therefore, increase income, which in turn creates opportunities to lower the high tax pressure that exists in Curaçao.

Budget 2025

Curaçao presents multiannual budget surpluses, mostly driven by the increasing tax income. The country is also making progress in the issuance of licenses to online gambling providers. This provides room to implement long-awaited reforms, for example in healthcare and social security. These reforms will benefit all residents of Curaçao. In this context, the Cft also drew attention to the further elaboration of the solution for the financial issues of the Curaçao Medical Center.