By Alexander Britell
SAN JUAN — St Maarten is continuing its recovery from Hurricane Irma.
The destination’s Tourism Minister, Cornelius de Weever, addressed the media at the recent Caribbean Travel Marketplace conference in Puerto Rico, briefing reporters on the island’s tourism recovery.
“We are open for business,” de Weever said, detailing both recovery and rebuilding efforts.
According to de Weever, the country is “serene and safe,” the road network is cleared of debris, a host of bars and restaurants are open and beach access is free and clean.
That’s along with the destination’s booming cruise sector, which has seen the quickest recovery.
According to de Weever, the destination is receiving daily flights from both Miami and New York, and there will be a phased reopening of the terminal building at St Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport in the second half of 2018.
As for the hotel sector, several larger properties are slated to be open in the latter half of this year, he said, while Philipsburg’s shopping haven is 95 percent open.
In another bit of positive news, St Maarten’s Heineken Regatta is going on as planned in March.