TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin The St. Martin of Tomorrow defined

https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islan...-it-is-time-to-write-a-new-page-for-2020

In Prefete Feucher's New Year's message are outlines of the French sides development and programs for 2020.

Believe it when we see it.

Some of these issues have been going on pre-Irma but the two that caused most of the recent protests were drinking water and the rezoning of properties in high risk areas... I found it interesting how she addressed... " The St. Martin of Tomorrow: residential areas, economic and tourist areas, and those that will be protected by comprehensive developements to cope with risk???

Yes, I suppose seeing will be believing. But, I'll try to leave my cynical side out of this and try to take heart in what she is saying. There's so much potential on French St. Martin that I'm encouraged for the future. Let's all hope they're not blowing smoke here. Bring in or rebuild hotels and resorts, starting with Club O. once that mess gets settled. Those hotels will eventually need to be staffed so establish quotas for hiring local residents. Secondary schools on St. Martin can introduce or increase focus on hotel and restaurant management courses which could lead to the establishment of a pool of qualified candidates. Infrastructure improvement would also help, especially in and around Grand Case. Future development in the Happy Bay and Friar's Bay areas could be considered, an area now that is beautiful but severely underdeveloped.

Not that I want see French St. Martin become another Cancun with a string of huge all-in-one resorts popping up, but medium-sized hotels with beach access and realistic pricing which would separate them from the much higher prices on nearby St. Barthelemy. Let's face it. St. Martin is never going to be a manufacturing hub so tourism jobs would be the ticket to get the youth off the streets and earning a wage. Maybe this would help stop or reduce the street protests that arise and eventually help the french side establish itself as true tourist destination.