TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin New Attraction coming.... good or bad??

Hi. You were posting at the exact same time that I posted my note about the article in the Daily Herald today.

In my opinion it looks ugly. i dont care for it.

It appears that it will have everything there - restaurants, shopping, hotel, zipline, aquarium. People will not have to leave the area once off the ship. Great way to see a beautiful island - better to just stay home!!
Once again - it's all about the $$'s...

now that you say that, maybe i do like it. Less people driving 4 wheelers, less people on the beaches. i think i might have to revisit my first opinion!

Bad for local business. All dollars stay with the cruise lines. Whoever approved this should have visited Cancun first. Buildup and big box at the beach killed a vibrant town full of local business. All American dollars now go right back to the U.S. with the big corporations. Sad day for the Dutch side, IMHO.

Exactly my first impression but much better articulated. I understand that it could broaden the appeal of the island and lead to greater tourist numbers, but it could very easily siphon off current tourist dollars being spent with local entities and have a net negative economic impact.

Walmart of the South......we all know the destruction they have caused on down town cores......kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

the profits may go back to the US, but at least those 400 paychecks will most likely be spent locally

I shudder to think of the traffic in and around Philipsburg.

I'm not entirely sure where it's supposed to be, but I THINK it's supposed to be walking distance from the cruise pier and most people who go there will be from ships, so not sure whether there will be much traffic effect on P'burg.

Between the cruise ship pier and Chesterfields.

Just adding more concrete to have less of a Caribbean island.

SXM??? Wendell

I know very little about this proposal beyond what I've read here and in a previous news article, but that said, and given the island fathers past interest (or lack there-of?) in preserving and maintaining the environmental beauty and soundness of the island, I can't help but feel a little skeptical. The Blue Mall was such a great idea, wasn't it?!

Don't take me wrong, I think it's great that it will provide all those construction and post-construction jobs, but I can't help but worry about so many of my island friends whose jobs and businesses may suffer or be lost because of this development. I sincerely hope my misgivings are ill founded but given past history...........?

While I agree in concept, is that actually an area of the island that people will lament being developed? Seems like in terms of natural beauty, the time has already passed for this particular parcel of land.

I agree with Dansc. If this means more of the cruisers stay away from Orient and the French side I am all for it! I think the cruise lines have done more damage to SXM than any good they provide in terms of local jobs but that is just one mans opinion...

Those dollars will never make it back to the US. Unless they want to pay a 39.6% tax. For tax purposes they will stay offshore. Just like all multinationals do.

Many people like us discovered St Maarten via a cruise and then stay on the island later spending money and creating jobs.
I have no problem with the cruise ships coming to port.

After 5 cruise visits we have spent 5 different weeks on the French side in the last 4 years. Hopefully the curious ones will venture past that circus, find what the island has to offer, and come to love SXM too. If not, their loss.

You must remember that cruise ships often offer tourists their first visit to this island. Tourism is the most important business here and so the cruise ships provide an opportunity for more land visits in the future by those who have loved their cruise experience here. Even though they may not have spent a lot of money on that first cruise visit, they definitely do contribute to the economy in future visits.Also the tour operators appreciate the business which is often substantial. St. Maarten/St. Martin is a beautiful island and should be enjoyed by all seeking whichever type of vacation they prefer.The island is called "the friendly island" and this term should apply to everyone!

We did not find St. Maarten on a cruise, but have many friends that did. These people have been returning to spend several weeks on this island for more than 20 years and definitely have contributed much to the local economy.This new venture which is currently be proposed could be an asset, but we will never know until it becomes a reality, and truly it is not a decision that visitors can vote on. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />