Business View Caribbean - July 2016 87
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Its operators, St.
Maarten
Harbour
Group of Companies,
invest not only in the
port itself, but also its
surrounding community
–
a
commitment
evidenced by a $50
million project to build
a causeway bridge over
an adjacent lagoon to
alleviate traffic issues,
and additional monies
earmarked for upgrade
of the surrounding area’s
main street.
The
Curacao Chronicle
reported that the port
welcomed nearly 1.8
million cruise passengers
in 2013 – a record for
the complex and a 2
percent rise from 2012.
Its ship calls also rose
from 622 to 631, and
the Florida Caribbean
Cruise
Association
claimed the total cruise
tourism
expenditures
in St. Maarten for
2011-12 were $356.2
million, placing it second
among the region’s 21
participant destinations.
Only the Bahamas
($393.8
million)
surpassed St. Maarten’s
total, while the top five
was rounded out by
the United States Virgin
Islands ($339.8 million),
Puerto Rico ($186.6
million) and the Cayman
Islands ($157.7 million).
