PHILIPSBURG:---  The Sint Maarten Tax Administration hereby informs the general public that as of Wednesday, July 2, 2025, cash payments in Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG) will no longer be accepted at the Receivers Office.

Beginning July 2, 2025, only the official currency, the Caribbean Guilder (XCG), will be accepted for guilder transactions.

We strongly encourage all taxpayers to take note of this important deadline and make the necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth transition.

For more information or assistance, please contact the Tax Administration at 542-2143, 542-3782, 542-3839, or 542-3840, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- The joint launch of a public awareness campaign against payment fraud is the most important outcome of the first meeting of the National Payment Council (NPC) in 2025. This meeting took place on June 9, 2025, in Curaçao and on June 12, 2025, in Sint Maarten, at the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS). During the meeting, various topics related to payments were discussed, including local payment card fees, payment fraud, and the further development of Instant Payment functionalities. A growing number of innovative payment methods are being offered in Curaçao and Sint Maarten, such as payment links and making payments using QR codes. This development is positive as it makes payments quick, easy, and efficient for consumers and businesses. However, these forms of payment also come with risks, such as online payment fraud. This fraud can result in financial losses and reduced trust in digital payments. That is why NPC members have taken the initiative to launch a campaign to raise awareness, warn about the risks, and teach people how to protect themselves against payment fraud. This campaign was discussed during the NPC meeting and will be rolled out soon. During the NPCs held in December 2024, one of the key findings was the need to structure local payment card fees jointly. An important part of this is the uniform configuration of payment devices (Point-of-Sale machines) and ATMs. A follow-up meeting was held in February 2025 to reach an agreement with the bankers’ associations on resolving these issues. The NPCs held in June this year showed that many problems have already been resolved, but that further attention is still needed for a few cases that continue to cause incorrect fees and for payment devices that have not yet been properly configured to accept all types of payment cards.

Finally, developments concerning Instant Payment were also discussed. This technology is now being utilized to process local interbank payments in real-time. Recently, applications have also been introduced on the Instant Payment network that allow payments without a payment card — via web shops, in physical stores, and from person to person. The CBCS informed the NPC of the technical guidelines it is drafting to regulate such applications. These guidelines also incorporate open-banking standards. Open banking allows companies to efficiently offer applications that provide access to bank data, such as transactions and account balances, and also enable the initiation of payments. In addition to drafting these guidelines, the CBCS is also exploring the possibilities of offering international instant payments between Curaçao and Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Aruba, and the Netherlands.

Willemstad, June 24, 2025

CENTRALE BANK VAN CURAÇAO EN SINT MAARTEN

PHILIPSBURG:---  On June 24, 2025, the Parliament of Sint Maarten approved the draft national ordinance to enact the budget for the year 2025.

The Minister of Finance, Marinka J. Gumbs, expressed appreciation for the approval and emphasized that she now looks forward to the formal enactment of the budget.

The Central Committee meetings commenced on June 9, 2025, leading to today’s successful approval in the public meeting of Parliament.

Minister Gumbs extended her gratitude to all Members of Parliament for their contributions and engagement throughout the process, stating, ““While I am pleased with the approval, my focus now turns to the formal enactment and execution of the budget. This is where the real work begins or better said continues, delivering on the plans and priorities outlined in this budget for the benefit of our people”.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Building on the momentum of its earlier “Island Hopping” webinar this year, the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB) successfully hosted a MICE-focused webinar on June 18, targeting Latin American travel trade professionals. The event, held in strategic collaboration with Copa Airlines, drew participation from over 150 travel agents and tour operators from across the Latin American region.

The webinar highlighted St. Maarten’s premier facilities and services for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE), reaffirming the island’s commitment to becoming a leading MICE destination in the Caribbean.

Travel professionals received in-depth presentations from representatives of key hospitality partners, including Copa Airlines, Sonesta Resorts Sint Maarten, JW Marriott Sint Maarten Beach Resort & Spa, Simpson Bay Resort, Marina & Spa, and Hill’s Event Hall. Each property showcased its unique offerings tailored to the MICE market, providing valuable insights into venue capacities, corporate packages, and group services.

“With continued recovery and renewed interest from Latin American markets, our goal is to position St. Maarten as a top-tier MICE destination in the Caribbean,” said Luis Hurtault, STB’s Marketing Officer for the Latin American Market. “This webinar gave trade professionals direct access to the island’s best venues for corporate and incentive travel.”

The Latin American market continues to show promising growth, with over 10,000 visitors arriving in 2024 to date, and even greater potential projected in the months ahead. STB’s ongoing webinar strategy remains a cost-effective and impactful way to engage directly with key influencers in the region.

STB encourages local tourism stakeholders to collaborate in future virtual events and broader marketing campaigns to further amplify St. Maarten’s visibility and competitiveness in the Latin American MICE market.

For more information or to explore partnership opportunities, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.vacationstmaarten.com.