POND ISLAND:--- Organizers of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta have decided to add an extra day to the three-day event, bringing it to four days of world-class racing and four nights of what has been described as top-notch entertainment.
Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Cornelius de Weever, welcomes the news and commends the organizers for adding an additional day to the event.
“The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is a tourist’s attraction for the destination and a key part of the annual calendar of events. Next year will be the 39th edition of the famous and largest annual warm weather regatta in this part of the Caribbean.
“Various islands in the Region also have regattas, and we need to be innovative and continue to improve upon what we have to offer. The organizers of the regatta are responding to trends and developments and at the same time adjusts to challenges that present themselves such as the September 2017 hurricanes.
“Based on the adjustments made for the regatta in March 2018 such as the setting up of a Regatta Village; hosting all concerts at one location and adding a fundraising aspect, the aforementioned greatly contributed to the success of the 2018 regatta. Again, this boils down to the foresight and innovativeness of the organizers to adjust to challenges and being resilient.
“An extended 39th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta will benefit the country’s tourism industry as it has done for the past 38 years. We are looking forward to the 39th edition of some serious fun,” Minister Cornelius de Weever said on Monday.
The 39th regatta is set from February 28 to March 3, 2019.
