Part 1
Marigot/Philipsburg: --- St. Maarten/ St. Martin (Delightfully Dutch, Fantastically French) a phrase used in the to describe the only island that offers its visitors the opportunity to visit one island while enjoying two nations. Unique in size as well as location and most importantly an island that have people that can accommodate the first time traveler.
Constant information reaching SMN News states that the two sides whose inhabitants have been living in harmony and peace for over 350 years and a nation that depends solely on tourism would no longer be working together. Even though both sides entered into a marriage by agreeing they would work and promote the island jointly, it is clear that the marriage is now over and no one wants to begin the divorce process.
Since the Collectivity of St. Martin was established on July 15 2007, reports claimed that the French side of the island refused to continue marketing with the Dutch side in the United States of America. SMN News reported extensively on this matter but at no time officials on any side confirmed the marriage is finally over. Information has been leaked to reporters concerning the situation, which was published in every media outlet.
Last week members of the media and government officials were invited to view the new branding for the Dutch side, a project the tourist office has been working on for months.
The first thing that was visible in the new branding is that the phrase that everyone is used to hearing, reading or seeing has disappeared. That phrase has been silently replaced with words that were, intentionally misspelled using the “AA” which highlights St. MAARTEN, this shows that the Dutch side has no choice but to market their side alone.
The new branding which is very much eye catching, convincing and extremely professional and sure will achieve the goals that it is intended for which is to market the Dutch side of the island and to put heads in beds in the hotels located on that side of the island.
After viewing this branding, it was clear to us reporters, that the information we were receiving regarding joint promotion and cooperation were true.
SMN News an outlet that tells it like it is did some interviews regarding joint marketing and cooperation, which includes the advantages and disadvantages.
Louis Constant Fleming
Speaking to this reporter on Friday was Senator Louis Constant Fleming who said that when he took office as president of the Collectivity of St. Marten the issue of Office du Tourisme escaped from him since the tourist office was set up as an association that was getting a subvention from the commune. He said he does not know how the monies were spent because there was never an audit at the Office du Tourisme.
Fleming said he instructed vice president Daniel Gibbs to phase out the association and to implement the EPIC. Fleming said he also made clear to Gibbs that if anyone has to be recruited from overseas he should make sure he did not recruit a young person, instead he should recruit people based on the policies of the Union Pour le Progres which states that foreign recruits should be over their 50’s and must be able to train a local employee.
Fleming said he does not intend to get into politics with anyone but because the guidelines set down by the UPP group were not respected. Fleming said he does not understand why the guidelines were not respected and more over he cannot understand how a vice president or any other elected official can go against the guidelines and principles of the party under which they were elected.
Fleming said at times he questions himself because he wondered if he was not clear enough and probably that was the reason the issues relating to Office du Tourisme got out of hand. Fleming said everyone knows the outcome of and what happened to the former director Yann Claeysen. He said when the EPIC president was elected he also had a talk with her and made clear to her (Ida Zin Ka Ieu) that the French side cannot compete with the Dutch side. Fleming said he also indicated to the EPIC president that the French side has to be humble recognize the accomplishments of the Dutch side over the years earned them credit. Fleming said credit has to be given to the Dutch side for having an international airport, which is the second largest in the Caribbean and mega- cruise facility, which facilitated the embellishment of the Dutch side.
Fleming said he appealed to his elected officials not to compete with the Dutch side instead; they need to work with what they have and in harmony. Fleming said he went as far as supplying the EPIC president with the curriculum vitae belonging to a local that has dual nationality.
Fleming said since then he basically washed his hands with the affairs of the Office du Tourisme. “The only thing I heard recently is that the Office du Tourisme would be launching a campaign in the subways in France. I am not an expert in tourism neither would I pretend to be one but over the years I have lived I have seen tourist destinations and how these places are promoted. I also belief that if St. Martin is going to promote itself in the subway stations then the island would be receiving a number of beggars as visitors.” Fleming said St. Martin is faced with a deplorable situation and the island is rather fortunate that they can benefit from quality airlifts in the Caribbean and the United States. Notwithstanding that St. Martin/ St. Maarten is one of the richest markets in the world with the easiest route. Fleming said he believes that the French side of the island should be promoting the island in the United States and not in the subway stations in France.
Taxis Verses Gypsies
Presently the COM has placed at the Taxi Stands in Marigot signs that states tourists should use taxis that bear the logos of the Collectivity. This of course has raised eyebrows among taxi drivers from the Dutch side who already stated that the French side is trying to discriminate against them even though 75% of the French taxis are working on the Dutch side of the island. While the intention of the transportation department might be well intended as their objective is to make sure visitors used taxis and not gypsies, specifying that these visitors use a taxi that bears the COM logo was uncalled for. Hopefully, with the meetings that are being held between the two sides the signboards can be corrected.
Bernadette Davis
SMN News also interviewed the former director of the tourist office and the brainchild of joint cooperation Bernadette Davis. Davis’s first words to us when we asked about joint promotion said she was one of the architects of joint promotions.
Davis said she could still remember the day the joint marketing was launched and felt it was the best thing for the island and the reporters that are covering tourism.
She said should the two sides stop working together then they would have to be very creative and must communicate more. Even though not wanting to cast judgment on those now managing the tourist office. She said during her time they began the marketing from the inception but does not know if the tourist office is to a stage where it can move to another level. Davis said in the beginning the French side was doing their marketing in the Office of Tourism of the French West Indies. The former director said when she took office years ago they did not have any marketing in the USA and being in the office of the French West Indies did not benefit the island. “Immediately I saw St. Martin was losing a major clientele since they were marketing the Guadeloupe and Martinique category.” St. Martin was missing the clientele that was going to St. Thomas and the British islands. She said that was St. Martin’s clientele because St. Martin speaks English and it was one that would facilitate the first time traveler, making them at home away from home.
Davis further explained that the travelers that go to Guadeloupe and Martinique are second time travelers or those that are more refined. “Those are travelers that are not afraid to buy a dictionary and go on a trip.” Davis said that St. Martin could easily attract the first time travelers because they would not get a culture shock instead they were going to get the fantastic French experience with people who are speaking their language. She insisted that the first time traveler could go to France in the Caribbean depending on how it is presented. Davis said when she recognized the needed the French side managed to get a representative in the US market and they were branded as the French in the Caribbean.
Davis who clearly did not forget the process said after that the French side merged with the Dutch side and began the doubling marketing strategy. She made clear that the French always had the smallest budget and on many occasion they were benefitting from the joint marketing. Davis further insisted that when the two sides were marketing together each side had to vigilante. She said the French must and should be communicating with the Dutch side since they practically do not have another choice. She felt if the French side is planning to take another direction it should be one that complements the joint marketing.
Davis concluded by saying that since she left the Office du Tourisme the situation is no longer the same. She said the EPIC is now taking shape and hopefully those managing tourism would realize the objective, which is to put heads in beds on either side.
