St. Maarten Reports 7.9 Percent Increase in Air Arrivals

St. Maarten air arrivals are up 7.9 percent in the first quarter of 2010 compared with the same period in 2009, according to the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau. Air arrivals totaled 160,908 versus 149,065 in 2009.

The first-quarter figures include an increase of 6.4 percent in visitors from the United States, and a hotel occupancy increase of 5.7 percent. First-quarter cruise passenger arrivals also climbed slightly, with 542,012 arrivals in 2010 versus 541,023 passengers in 2009, an increase of 0.2 percent.

“After a difficult year in 2009, tourism to St. Maarten is rebounding,” said Regina LaBega, director of tourism at the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau. “We anticipate we will continue to see increased growth throughout the rest of the year as the global economy recovers.”