However, the president of the Tourist Office hopes to see, within five years, the hotel capacity of the French part of the island increase from 1,500 beds to 3,000. “It’s an ambitious goalshe agrees, We are going to set up a counter to facilitate the filing of building permits.
Are these ambitions not likely to be thwarted by the current economic and energy crisis which is driving up the price of plane tickets? “Of course, we don’t really have a hand. But we will try to negotiate, especially with the airlines with whom we are in close contact”retorts Valérie Damaseau.
Saint-Martin being a high-end destination, tourists should not, at least in the short term, be discouraged by the increase in airfares. The good outlook for the winter season confirms this.
Moreover, Air France-KLM, which provides a daily flight to Saint-Martin from Paris-CDG and three flights a week from Amsterdam, is increasing its rotations this winter, in particular by adding flights from Orly.
But what will happen the day after tomorrow if ticket prices really soar? And if the flight shamethe “ashamed to fly”, is gaining a growing part of Western opinion? “I remain optimistic. We will negotiate with our partners. There are always solutions“, eludes Valérie Damaseau.