Having visited St Maarten/St Martin hundreds of times since 1975, I have insight as to where the Island has been- and where it is heading.  I was also in the air/hotel/car rental packaging business- which put me on contact with many key people in the tourism and government sectors. It has been an exciting and educational time and has given me a perspective that I would say is unique for this two country, single Island destination.  Some 40 years ago it was given the name “The Friendly Island” by Robert Read, an icon in hotel representation business. I feel it is still  “The Friendly Island” and hope it will remain in the future. I have traveled to several dozen countries in Europe, Asia the Pacific and just as many Islands- and still consider this Island my favorite.  What makes it so?  The people.  Not only the native Antillians, but the people of the great melting pot of the Caribbean I meet who work in hospitality, as well as the worldwide visitors who vacation here. We are fortunate to have such a loyal following of visitors who keep coming again and again because the Island makes them feel welcome. And least we forget, visitors totally drive the economy of the Island. There is no gold in the hills or oil in the ground. We need visitors, locals, people from other Islands that work in hospitality- to keep this “The Friendly Island”.

Mr. St. M.

Mr. St Maarten himself will be blogging every week!