PHILIPSBURG:--- During his first meeting with the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) on Monday August 21, Tourism Minister Romeo Pantophlet has pledged his support for the realization of the St. Maarten Tourism Authority (STA) and the full utilization of the Tourism Statistical Immigration System (TSIS), by January 2013.Meanwhile SHTA has suggested to the Minister that an Interim STA be established to avoid loss of "valuable time," until the formalization of the STA could be finalized, a suggestion which has the Minister's attention.
Regarding the TSIS Pantophlet said, "We have visited the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) and as we speak a memorandum of understanding is being worked out with the St. Maarten Tourist Office, the Justice Office and the PJIA." He said, "We have agreed that the PJIA will own the infrastructure since it will be stationed at the Airport. We agreed that they would also be managing the system."
He said though that the information will be fully accessible by the Tourism Bureau, the Future STA, SHTA and others who would need to use the much needed data.
During the meeting SHTA Board also posed questions to the Minister regarding his Tourism Policy, the status of the Multi-Annual Policy Plan (MAPP) and the plans for the new tax system as the uncertainty is also effecting the economy.
SHTA also mentioned improving the investment climate as being critical to the creation of a more robust economy and job creation. "While we understand implementing of policies to attract large foreign investment, SHTA believes the best way to attract new investment is to take care of your current investors. Currently, residents and businesses are insecure and uncertain, and the result is that anyone that is accumulating any capital is reluctant to reinvest their money back into the local economy."
While the SHTA applauds government's efforts to control cost of living, we believe it is important to understand that the cost of doing business has a direct impact of cost of living, fuel prices, freight, cost of goods, utilities, taxes, administrative costs have all increased dramatically, while revenues have either decreased or remained flat. According to SHTA, "Against this backdrop in combination with flat or declining revenues, how realistic is it to expect that cost of living won't increase?"
The minister lauded the effort of the SHTA and said that he was looking forward to continued dialogue with the Association as St. Maarten moves towards a more sustainable tourism industry.