PHILIPSBURG:--- The Canadian market continues to demonstrate a steady increase in visitor arrivals to the island. In 2013, the island welcomed 292,488 stay over visitors from this market. In 2014, the stay over visitor arrivals increase by 10% for a total of 317,757 visitors.
This increase can be contributed to the efforts of the marketing initiatives carried out by the Tourism Bureau and its partners, locally and internationally.
One such cost efficient and effective initiative of bringing about awareness to the destination is working closely with the airline partners.
From June 16 to 21, 14 WestJet reservation agents from Quebec, Canada were on island to learn about the island and what we have to offer their clients. The agents were given an island tour, visited several hotels that are in the West Jet program and sampled some of our gastronomic cuisines on the island.
Currently, West Jet provides service to St. Maarten from Toronto and Montreal twice per week.
West Jet is also adding airlift from Quebec this upcoming season hence the reason the agents visited St. Maarten to see the product to better sell the destination.
The St. Maarten Tourist Bureau had the pleasure of organizing a scavenger hunt in Philipsburg, for these agents. The highlights of scavenger hunt included our historical sites as well as several stores along Front Street, Back Street and the Boardwalk that participated in the program. The hunt concluded with a dinner at Holland house, where the winning agents was presented with a prize.
