PHILIPSBURG–The country’s hefty NAf. 197 million deficit is now enshrined in law via the 2018 budget, but there is no guarantee that that gigantic sum will not grow if Government does not make a push to get shuttered resorts reopened, employing people again and welcoming guests, says United Democrats leader Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Heyliger.
“Not having the major properties open again will result in a further erosion of the scant budget. The well-being of our country depends on the reopening of larger properties,” Heyliger said on Sunday, calling on Government to update Parliament and the population on what is being done to push steadily and firmly to reopen doors and make pay cheques frequent again.
He called for updates on the partial and/or full reopening of Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Great Bay Resort, Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Sapphire Club, Simpson Bay Resort and Royal Palm, among others.
“Government should not be scared of doing whatever is necessary to get these properties open again. Tourism, after all, still is our backbone. There is need for us to further diversify our economy, but at this juncture tourism is what feeds us as a people and pours the most in Government’s coffers,” Heyliger said. “It is trickle-down economics. Hotels employ people. Hotels bring in guests, who buy airline tickets, who pay taxes, who rent cars, who use taxis, who buy food, etc.”
Without the larger properties in operation to boost what the medium and small properties are bringing in, Heyliger questioned how exactly the budget deficit will be covered.
His query to Government is: “Are we going to approach the Dutch Government for even more money or are we going to find our own footing as we have done so many times? Where are the incentives for all businesses, including hotels?”
During the budget debate late week, Tourism and Economic Affairs TEATT Minister Cornelius de Weever said in answers to questions from MP Rolando Brison (United St. Maarten Party) that his Ministry has developed a draft Incentive Package for businesses to be discussed with the Ministry of Finance “to ascertain what legal basis we have and/or what amendments can be made to realise these incentives.”
On the marketing side for small hotel properties, the TEATT Ministry intends to execute a summer/fall cooperative public relations and marketing campaign in the Caribbean region to increase yield growth in the number of persons who traditionally stay in the small hotel properties. This will aid economic activity for this sector, according to the Minister.
A meeting will be held soon with the small hotels to assess their needs and to allocate funds in the tourism product development budget to execute a study for this sector regarding cost-effective ways to rebrand the properties to more boutique images in product and services, De Weever said.
The Ministry has also proposed conditional incentives in its draft incentive package that will be geared towards the small properties and other small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/76548-heyliger-govt-s-main-priority-should-be-reopening-of-hotels
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