TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin One million Chinese tourists per year?

Sorry, my perception is that any SXM leaders who are promoting this would be doing it for their own personal gain, not for the good of the island.

I can agree that the only reason the government of SXM would want a project of this size has got to be personal gain for the individuals that support it. Their pitch is that this will boost the sagging tourism industry. But, at what cost? For starters, that area has been a nature sanctuary for some time. The Barbaron deal may have been able to preserve it but a facility of this size would require that entire area to be filled in (so much for the environment).
Secondly, as already stated the traffic nightmare would be beyond chaotic.
I for one, after going to SXM every year for 30 years and calling the Belair my home away from home for the last 25 of those years, would need to find another island.

My thoughts keep coming back to one thing. Why would they come?

If I'm Chinese, I live half way around the world. There are countless more spectacular places (sorry buts it's true) than SXM. PHuket Thailand, the whole South Pacific. Bora bora, Fiji, etc. Maldives , Seychelles , Hawaii....
Who in their right mind would spend 20+ hours flying to SXM when these kind of places can be reached easier and cheaper. Makes no sense to me.

Nuts.

If this really happens, all I can say is "Good Bye St. Maarten" and then my string of 21 trips will be over.

That's a good point as far as the Chinese tourist go but the Chinese government has something bigger going on I think and it's not good for SXM or us.

I think you are correct, that if this happens, in those kinds of numbers, there are a lot of people who would say goodbye to SXM..

You've got that right, but not just in SXM but elsewhere in the Caribbean, South America (Brazil, Venezuela and even Mexico), and in Africa. IMHO, if that's possible <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Carol, Tom and others,

Here's a link to the proposal made by Barbaron.

http://www.barbaronsxm.com/project_presentation.pdf

Almost seems reasonable compared to new deal. There is a familiar name that was a possible player in the deal.

Sadly I fear that the lagoon and nature area will be a thing of the past eventually.

That's pretty funny, another failed deal!

I'm willing to bet you don't have to worry about all those tourists. China is due for a huge and spectacular real estate bubble burst, and these investments are just a way to delay that. Those rooms will largely go unoccupied. If the local government does the right thing and applies some of the investment in infrastructure it might almost be worth the big empty building which is going to result...

Well, I'd hate to leave SXM so that means I'll stay on the French side until they do something stupid like this.

The French Side? That's where they'll be hiding the troop ships to carry the million "tourists", along with their compatriots from Aruba, the Bahamas, Cuba, etc., when they invade the US. (This is an attempt at humor, admittedly a poor one, but still an attempt at humor.)

Aren't they building the harbor larger on the French side for cruise ships. It's one island. Neither side is immune to this

The French side already has a cruise ship dock that they plan to dredge so bigger ships can come in. Cruiser don't bother me but more high-risers do. The French side has a law against high buildings.

PS
the dock is down Rue de Galisbay. Keeping water at your left, go beyond where you get the ferry to Anguilla , Mall on right, follow road toward Grand Case rotary. It's a left turn to Port de Galisbay.

Wonder whether this will negatively impact Club Orient, as China frowns upon public nudity. In 2014, there was a crack down on the one nudist beach area in China, Dadonghai Beach, at the resort city of Sanya on Hainan Island. http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1425148/hainan-coverup-sanya-cracks-down-nude-sunbathers

Uhmn, no, irrelevant.

Daily Herald editorial What we said from the beginning--the numbers don't make sense.

Carol: It seems that everyone in the Caribbean is going to China, hat in hand, looking for hand-outs. Our dear governor is one of them: Mapp signs million dollar hotel bill. I guess you go where the money is...

Wow, and I thought the SXM government was messed up. $1m for what?

Who knows? We can't pay our bills and are in debt to the hilt.

That's the answer. When the delegation comes to visit we all go nude on Belair Beach!

French side is SXM and IMHO opinion, more like the Caribbean and less like NYC with palm tress. Just my opinion. I expect lots of nasty responses, but SXM includes the FRENCH side. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Actually SXM is the airport identification on the Dutch side. Just saying.

I can't see how the Chinese could do anything about nudity on the French side. The plan for the Chinese high rise is on the Dutch side. I doubt the French Govt would care what the Chinese think about nudity.

I hope its not another 1 million tourist! That's odd to read because the last time we went to SXM in March we saw a van load of Asian men walking along Simpson Bay Beach looking around with what looked a like a group of local business men also dressed nicely. Wonder what else they are up to?

Doctor No, know doubt. Look out for that dragon rolling thought the salt flats at night.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />there is a pic on Trip advisor for the Belair that shows the shelf the Barbaron cut into the mountain...I cant see that type of place being put there.

My opinion as well

what the hell does this mean?

so if I were a Chinese worker at Apple and wanted to vacation in Saint Marten for the one week that I am entitled to. I could fly halve way around the world and rack up mega airline mileage by doing so.
SXM is three times the distance from Hawaii, just a thought.

Been to Hawaii. In no way does it compare to St Maarten. I live in Washington State. Hawaii is much closer than St Maarten and that is where I go for my yearly tropical vacation.

I'm sure those Apple workers in China are making the big bucks and can afford the flight <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Cost is probably not the factor. Time in the air more so.

A story which doesn't appear to be in the online version now says that the number of one million visitors is spread over TEN years, and includes people flying into SXM and connecting to other islands. Took them long enough to admit the original story was bogus...

Daily Herald story I thought this thing was already approved by government? There is some review, which is supposed to be concluded by the end of this month?? Why would they have a scheduled ground breaking on the 17th of this month, if there are government reviews still pending? Interesting, the reference to a 'Westin, on a larger scale'. We all know what a huge environmental and otherwise success the Westin has been, destroying public access to Dawn Beach! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Environmental concerns

Interesting the comment about setting up a China Caribbean hub. I get the airport / cruise ship connection, but China investment in the Caribbean has been ongoing for several yrs, some islands getting gifts ie Dominica, other loans and investment ie Trinidad, Cuba a road!.

In many cases the concept of creating a China Caribbean hub was mentioned - just how many hubs do the Chinese need?

Almost every island has been looked at with investment ongoing at several. What's interesting is how long it took for St Maarten to come into the picture.

I can;t help but be reminded about the Chinese Olmpic bid for 2000 which failed. Immediately the Chinese went thru Africa creating many projects in many countires, stadiums, help with infrastructure, favourable loans, outsourcing to local business's who had ties to those who signed on behalf of the local country.
Amazingly, all those countries voted for the next Chinese Olympic bid which culminated in the 2008 games.

That is not the case now, but how come almost every caribbean country is getting interest from the Chinese?

J&B

Daily Herald story

Too bad tourists couldn't sign this petition then govt. might realize what might be lost as compared to gain by this project.

Don't you think if the SXM government really cared about tourists there would be some action on timeshare legislation? Perhaps also more action against crime?