According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the number of Caribbean visitors increased 1.8% in 2013, a growth rate that lagged well behind most other world regions. In comparison, 2013 tourist arrivals grew 3.6% in all of the Americas, 5.4% in Europe, 5.6% in Africa and 6% in Asia and the Pacific.
The Caribbean’s 1.8% increase in visitors also was down from the region’s 4.9% increase in 2012, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). The Caribbean welcomed slightly more than 25 million visitors in 2013, up from 24.6 million a year earlier.
St. Maarten total air arrivals increased 1.9% to 554,858 while visitor arrivals increased 2.2% to 466,955 visitors.
The CTO estimates that visitor expenditures totaled $28.1 million, a 2.3% increase from the prior year.
Minister Ted Richardson stated that he was happy that St. Maarten’s increase was above the Caribbean’s average and hopes that with new initiatives, the 2014 arrival figures will be higher while the average spending per visitor would also increase.
Below is a synopsis of the arrivals by air on St. Maarten.
North American Market
According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the U.S., from where the Caribbean drew almost half its visitors, sent 12.3 million travelers to the Caribbean, a 2.9% increase. The region’s largest source market performed relatively well for St. Maarten. However, there is room for improvement in terms of visitor arrivals. St. Maarten experienced an increase of 3.2% (7,650 visitors) when compared to 2012. St. Maarten’s visitors from the US market accounted for 246,188 visitors, the best year in terms of arrivals from this market since 2009. The US market accounts for 44.3% of the total arrivals.
The Canadian market demonstrated a strong showing with an increase of 14.5% (5,874 visitors) as it was a record year with 46,300 visitors accounting for 8.3% of the arrivals. This increase in visitors in the Canadian market can be attributed to the increase in visitors from Sunwing clients which services the destination with 2 weekly flights from both Toronto and Montreal during the season.
The number of Canadian visitors increased 0.7%, to 3.1 million in the Caribbean. The CTO said it was it the lowest year-over-year growth from the Canadian market since 1997. However, St. Maarten experienced a 14.5% growth accounting for 46,300 Canadian visitors, a record, surpassing the 1994 total of 41,334 visitors.
Among individual destinations, the Bahamas, Barbados and the U.S. Virgin Islands each had visitor’s decreases exceeding 5%.
Caribbean Market
The Caribbean market accounted for 4.5% of total arrivals in 2013 and experienced an increase of 3.0% to 24,967 visitors when compared to 2012.
The Trinidadian market showed a strong increase of 40.8% accounting for 4,269 visitors in 2013. This increase can be attributed to a charter operation by the Sonesta Group of Companies as well as a sales mission executed by the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau in collaboration with local hotels.
High inter-island airfares are still limiting the movement of persons within the Caribbean as it is cheaper to fly to the USA then to fly within the Caribbean.
European Market
According to CTO, the number of visitors from Europe fell 3.7%, to 4.7 million in the region. The CTO blamed low economic growth in Europe and the U.K.’s high departure tax for the decrease in visitors. St. Maarten experienced a decrease of 1.5% (1,553 visitors) from this market to 103,643 visitors in 2013. The European market accounted for 18.7% of total arrivals.
With the exception of the Russian market (13.7% increase), the European visitors to St. Maarten experienced decreases.
The French, Italian and Dutch markets experienced decreases of 0.5%, 4.5% and 2.4% respectively.
The French market accounted for 12.0% of total arrivals with 66,716 visitors in 2013 while the Dutch market accounted for 2.9% of total arrivals with 16,019 visitors.
Latin American Market
While the Latin American market only accounted for 2.9% (15,820 visitors) of total arrivals, the market experienced a 1.2% (187 visitors) increase in arrivals.
CTO reports that a strong growth in visitors to Aruba (7%) and Curacao (4.9%) dovetails with a 13% increase in South America visitors for all the Caribbean. The CTO said the Dutch Caribbean islands are the most popular destinations for South American visitors. CTO Chairwoman Beverly Nicholson-Doty attributed the big increase in South America visitors to "strong economies, particularly in Brazil and Venezuela."
The absence of direct airlift and the limited indirect airlift from South America to St. Maarten is a contributing factor as to why St. Maarten is lagging behind in arrivals from South America. Aruba and Curacao has direct airlift from Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Suriname and Brazil.
Brazil accounted for 4,725 visitors while Argentina and Venezuela accounted for 2,398 and 3,276 visitors respectively. It is noteworthy to mention that Copa Airlines serviced the destination with 2 weekly flights during 2013 while a charter from Ecuador with 8 rotations helped sustain this market.
Other Visitors
Visitors form the Rest of the World decreased by 5.3% to 14,423 visitors while Dutch Caribbean nationals from abroad also decreased by 10.6% to 15,614 visitors.
Residents from other Dutch Caribbean islands accounted for 11.9% of arrivals and decreased by 1% to 65,992 travelers. Local residents accounted for 3.9% of total arrivals (21,911 travelers) experiencing an increase of 1.7% in 2013.
Airlines
Total passenger arrivals in 2013 were 554,858 travelers. American Airlines transported the most travelers to the destination with 91,471 travelers followed by Jet Blue and US Airways with 71,575 and 67,501 travelers respectively. Winair transported 41,916 travelers to the destination while 11,316 travelers arrived by private planes.
Departures totaled 852,527 travelers in 2013 of which American Airlines transported the most travelers off the island with 114,6726 travelers followed by Jet Blue and US Airways accounting for 97,291 and 84,152 travelers respectively. 78,985 travelers departed on Winair.
In transit travelers totaled 379,123 travelers in 2013. LIAT had the most in-transit travelers, 89,530, followed by Winair and KLM with 41,178 and 38,976 travelers respectively.
The most traveled period for arriving travelers was the month of March with 60,553 travelers while September was the least with 26,436 travelers.
The most traveled period for departing travelers was the month of March with 99,024 travelers while September was the least with 38,641 travelers.
Aircrafts
There were a total of 28,590 aircraft movements arriving in 2013 while departing movements totaled 28,419 aircrafts.