Philipsburg-Commissioner Roy Marlin met with members of the Westin and Sonesta Group to discuss strategies of dealing with promoting activities that will result in increased traffic within the short term besides the extra measures that have been implemented through the Economic Recovery Fund.
The meeting was about trying to consolidate forces and collective resources in attempting to pursue a strategy of increased visitors to the island.
Commissioner Marlin said that "We have to try different marketing strategies and promotional activities to try to attract tourist, to get them to come to the island through innovative means, and to induce them to spend at our stores, restaurants, and other types of activities."
Meant to be incentive measures via travel associations, the idea is to provide stimulus to potential customers by means of upgrades, gift coupons, and other such specials.
For this reason we are here strategizing about different marketing and communication activities that can be done to stimulate the target markets that we are going after.
It is important to be proactive, Commissioner Marlin said. We are targeting the South American market and the American Northeastern market, for they are promising prospects.
In addition, there is also the possibility to request of other surrounding island governments and hoteliers to join in the marketing efforts, i.e. Anguilla, St. Barths-islands that have a spin off effect of tourism visitors to St. Maarten.
Later this month, at strategic planning session will take place with concerned partners.
