Carol, I don't understand the part about the Euro? Why would the local currency (esp. a major world currency) make people wary of traveling to St Martin?

With regard to the protest, I think we tourists have to remember we are visitors and that crap will happen when you travel. For some, yes, it will stop them from going or returning. For others it becomes part of the adventure. For the people who live on the island, the issue that they are protesting will likely impact them for years.

It sounds to me like this is more an act of civil disobedience. And civil disobedience is a key tool in a democracy.