GREAT BAY--Port St. Maarten is developing a new pedestrian access route, known as Project Walk, that will connect the cruise port area to Dock Maarten, providing cruise passengers with an additional way to walk directly into Philipsburg and potentially improving the distribution of visitors among businesses along the Boardwalk, Front Street and the wider town center.
Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten disclosed the initiative during Friday's continuation of the 2027 national budget debate, in response to concerns raised by Member of Parliament Ludmila de Weever about declining pedestrian traffic and the uneven distribution of cruise passengers throughout Philipsburg.
According to the Minister, the Harbour Group anticipates opening the new pedestrian route around mid-December 2026. No aditional information was offered at this time. The proposed connection will direct pedestrians toward Dock Maarten, near Greenhouse Restaurant and the eastern end of the Boardwalk, creating another access point into town for passengers arriving at the cruise facility.
Heyliger-Marten said the project is intended to encourage more cruise passengers to walk into Philipsburg while supporting efforts to improve pedestrian movement and reduce congestion around the cruise port entrance.
Addressing Congestion and Unauthorized Solicitation
The Minister explained that Project Walk is also expected to complement efforts to address unauthorized solicitation, aggressive approaches to visitors and congestion at the cruise port entrance.
She identified these activities as contributing factors to traffic and passenger-flow problems in the Point Blanche area.
By providing visitors with a more accessible and organized pedestrian route, the Harbour hopes to improve movement between the cruise facility and Philipsburg while reducing some of the pressure at the existing entrance.
Heyliger-Marten expressed optimism that the new arrangement could help alleviate congestion once operational.
The initiative forms part of a broader effort to improve how cruise passengers move through the destination, particularly on days when multiple vessels are in port.
Minister Clarifies Water Taxi Distribution
Responding to concerns about where cruise passengers are being transported, Heyliger-Marten disputed the suggestion that ferry operators were directing passengers exclusively to the Walter Plantz Square area.
She said she had confirmed the existing arrangements directly with ferry operators.
According to the Minister, when one cruise ship is in port, passengers are transported to Bobby's Marina and Captain Hodge Wharf.
When two or more cruise ships are in port, ferry services extend to three designated drop-off points.
The Minister noted that concerns received from businesses in the Walter Plantz Square area actually suggested the opposite problem: insufficient passenger traffic reaching that section of Philipsburg.
Her response highlighted the challenge of distributing visitors throughout the town rather than allowing activity to concentrate around a few established arrival points.
For businesses operating along Front Street, Back Street, the Boardwalk and near Walter Plantz Square, passenger distribution can influence commercial activity, especially during the cruise tourism season.
Cruise Shopping Arrangements Also Influence Pedestrian Traffic
Heyliger-Marten also discussed another factor that she believes may have influenced pedestrian movement and shopping activity in Philipsburg: commercial arrangements between cruise lines and individual retail establishments.
She explained that her inquiries had identified a previous arrangement between a jewelry establishment and Royal Caribbean involving shopping promotions aboard cruise ships and destination shopping maps.
According to the Minister, that arrangement has recently ended, and she understands that a different jewelry business with establishments in Philipsburg has entered into a new arrangement with the cruise line.
She suggested that this change could result in more passengers being directed toward businesses within the town center.
The Minister's explanation highlighted the influence that cruise-line shopping promotions and recommended retail destinations can have on visitor movement.
However, the anticipated increase in pedestrian activity has not yet been quantified, and the commercial arrangements described by the Minister do not establish how many additional passengers will visit Philipsburg.
Spreading Tourism Benefits Across Town
Heyliger-Marten emphasized that improving the distribution of cruise passengers has been a priority of hers since taking office.
Rather than concentrating visitor activity in specific locations, she wants businesses across Philipsburg to benefit more evenly from the substantial number of cruise passengers arriving on St. Maarten.
She identified the Marina area, Walter Plantz Square, Front Street and the Boardwalk among the commercial areas that should benefit from a better distribution of visitors.
The issue is particularly important for the capital's business community, where cruise passenger arrivals do not automatically translate into equal commercial opportunities for every establishment.
Project Walk is expected to provide another physical connection between the port and town, while changes in ferry operations, visitor information and cruise shopping promotions can also influence where passengers travel and spend their money.
The initiative comes as government continues examining broader transportation and pedestrian-access improvements intended to strengthen Philipsburg's position as a shopping, dining and tourism destination.
Although the new route is anticipated to open around mid-December, its actual impact on pedestrian movement and commercial activity will become clearer once it is operational.
For Heyliger-Marten, the objective is to create a more organized flow of visitors into Philipsburg and ensure that a wider cross-section of businesses can benefit from the cruise tourism activity generated by Port St. Maarten.
