Lots of valid reasons. I am here now and it is not at all busy, regardless of how many ships are in port. Traffic out of town and back to Simpson Bay was actually worse the Wed. when 6 ships were here. Probably with no ships in port today, no tours, no taxi service needed the locals were on the road, shopping, running errands, etc. Philipsburg has many vacant store fronts on Front St. and I would guess Back St. to have about 50% vacant store fronts. I have never seen town as dead as the two times I have been there on this trip.

For me, air price and availability are the biggest deterrent. Throw in the US stock market and the continuing out of control inflation and it is not a good combination. There were times in the past I was here 2 and 3 times a year but the cost of the trip, the airport mess and lack of good air options is a deal breaker.

Like most politicians, I imagine the ones here are as out of touch as what we have at home. Lip service reigns supreme.