POINTE BLANCHE--A new cruise passenger arrival milestone was set in 2011, as more than 1.6 million cruisers visited St. Maarten in 596 ship calls. The cruise arrival figure for 2010 was just over 1.5 million.
On December 31, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies clocked in the total arrivals for the year at 1,656,159. That number represents 344,200 more cruise ship passengers than in 2010.
The month with the highest number of cruise passenger arrivals was December with 239,329. September was the lowest with 57,210; one reason for this was the ship call cancellations due stormy weather related to the annual Atlantic Hurricane Season.
The continued growth in the cruise business is attributed to the direct marketing to cruise line executives and itinerary planners by Deputy Prime Minister/Harbour Affairs Minister Theo Heyliger and Harbour Group CEO Mark Mingo.
Heyliger had said in 2010 after meetings with cruise executives that 2011 would see a milestone 1.6 million in cruise passenger arrivals. St. Maarten continues to be an industry leader and a top three port in the Caribbean, Heyliger said. "All eyes are on us. We have to strive to do better and be more innovative."
Pointing to an article in The Gleaner of Jamaica, published on December 30, titled "Jamaica - Second-fastest growing cruise destination," Heyliger said cruising continues to grow and islands close and far are looking at successful port models and destinations for cues.
The Gleaner article stated that Jamaica now ranks as the second fastest-growing cruise destination in the Caribbean for the first time in at least five years. "Its growth was only bettered by St. Maarten among 20 regional nations, including Mexico."
Mingo urged all cruise partners ? merchants, tour/activities operators and other businesses ? to review the products offered and seek new ways to encourage more visitors to come to St. Maarten aboard cruise ships or to return as stay-over visitors.
"We all have a role in marketing our country. We should not wait for the harbour, government or anyone else to do it for us. Let 2012 be about better partnerships for St. Maarten and its economy," Mingo said.
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