Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Stuart Johnson is calling on the business community to support Carnival 2019 as the destination celebrates the 50thanniversary of the largest annual cultural event of the country.
The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) has already commenced with engaging businesses in the Philipsburg area to support the event.
“Carnival on an annual basis for the past 49-years has attracted revelers from near and far. It has become one of the country’s key annual attractions for tourists as well.
“Carnival 2019 will be approaching a very important milestone, the 50thgolden anniversary, and it will be one of the biggest events of 2019. We need everybody onboard.
“If you want to benefit from Carnival, you have to contribute and the spinoff will be more business overall for the country. The country gets promoted and it’s a win-win for everybody.
“Sint Maarten is back in business and this signature event is a golden opportunity for the business community to support in 2019,” Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Stuart Johnson said on Thursday.
The official part of Carnival 2019 will begin on April 22 with the traditional opening ceremony and will go on for two weeks ending on May 6.
The promotion of the cultural-entertainment industry is part of the St. Maarten United Christian Democratic Party’s Governing program 2018-2022 entitled “Building a Sustainable Sint Maarten.”
Johnson was the former SCDF President that along with his team organized successfully Carnival 2011 and 2012.
Minister Johnson knows first-hand what it takes to organize Carnival on an annual basis as he moved up the ranks within the SCDF starting out as a member of the youth wing and later becoming President.