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New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? #49864
04/09/2015 09:38 AM
04/09/2015 09:38 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,764
Quebec
kish Offline OP
Traveler
kish  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,764
Quebec

SXM Sponsors
Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: kish] #49865
04/09/2015 09:42 AM
04/09/2015 09:42 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Hi. You were posting at the exact same time that I posted my note about the article in the Daily Herald today.


Carol Hill
Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: Carol_Hill] #49866
04/09/2015 09:46 AM
04/09/2015 09:46 AM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 535
norwalk, ct
D
Dansc Offline
Traveler
Dansc  Offline
Traveler
D
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 535
norwalk, ct
In my opinion it looks ugly. i dont care for it.

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: kish] #49867
04/09/2015 11:10 AM
04/09/2015 11:10 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,303
NJ
R
RoryS Offline
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RoryS  Offline
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R
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,303
NJ
It appears that it will have everything there - restaurants, shopping, hotel, zipline, aquarium. People will not have to leave the area once off the ship. Great way to see a beautiful island - better to just stay home!!
Once again - it's all about the $$'s...

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: RoryS] #49868
04/09/2015 11:20 AM
04/09/2015 11:20 AM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 535
norwalk, ct
D
Dansc Offline
Traveler
Dansc  Offline
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D
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 535
norwalk, ct
now that you say that, maybe i do like it. Less people driving 4 wheelers, less people on the beaches. i think i might have to revisit my first opinion!

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: Dansc] #49869
04/09/2015 11:32 AM
04/09/2015 11:32 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 155
Central Connecticut
4
4Driver4 Offline
Traveler
4Driver4  Offline
Traveler
4
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 155
Central Connecticut
Bad for local business. All dollars stay with the cruise lines. Whoever approved this should have visited Cancun first. Buildup and big box at the beach killed a vibrant town full of local business. All American dollars now go right back to the U.S. with the big corporations. Sad day for the Dutch side, IMHO.

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: 4Driver4] #49870
04/09/2015 11:40 AM
04/09/2015 11:40 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 304
NC, USA
Durathror Offline
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Durathror  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 304
NC, USA
Quote
4Driver4 said:
Bad for local business. All dollars stay with the cruise lines. Whoever approved this should have visited Cancun first. Buildup and big box at the beach killed a vibrant town full of local business. All American dollars now go right back to the U.S. with the big corporations. Sad day for the Dutch side, IMHO.


Exactly my first impression but much better articulated. I understand that it could broaden the appeal of the island and lead to greater tourist numbers, but it could very easily siphon off current tourist dollars being spent with local entities and have a net negative economic impact.


There's a small fortune to be made in racing; just start with a large one.
Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: kish] #49871
04/09/2015 11:51 AM
04/09/2015 11:51 AM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 250
K
KATEONTARIO77 Offline
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KATEONTARIO77  Offline
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K
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 250
Walmart of the South......we all know the destruction they have caused on down town cores......kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: 4Driver4] #49872
04/09/2015 12:00 PM
04/09/2015 12:00 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Sugar Land, Tx
I
IslandBoi Offline
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IslandBoi  Offline
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I
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Sugar Land, Tx
the profits may go back to the US, but at least those 400 paychecks will most likely be spent locally


[Linked Image]
Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: kish] #49873
04/09/2015 12:10 PM
04/09/2015 12:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,553
Manhattan
W
weeks5051 Offline
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weeks5051  Offline
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W
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,553
Manhattan
I shudder to think of the traffic in and around Philipsburg.

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: weeks5051] #49874
04/09/2015 12:16 PM
04/09/2015 12:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
Traveler
Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,466
Central Florida!
I'm not entirely sure where it's supposed to be, but I THINK it's supposed to be walking distance from the cruise pier and most people who go there will be from ships, so not sure whether there will be much traffic effect on P'burg.


Carol Hill
Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: Carol_Hill] #49875
04/09/2015 12:24 PM
04/09/2015 12:24 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,376
SXMWendell Offline
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SXMWendell  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 7,376
Between the cruise ship pier and Chesterfields.

Just adding more concrete to have less of a Caribbean island.

SXM??? Wendell

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: kish] #49876
04/09/2015 02:06 PM
04/09/2015 02:06 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
pat Offline
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pat  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,635
Brookfield, CT.
I know very little about this proposal beyond what I've read here and in a previous news article, but that said, and given the island fathers past interest (or lack there-of?) in preserving and maintaining the environmental beauty and soundness of the island, I can't help but feel a little skeptical. The Blue Mall was such a great idea, wasn't it?!

Don't take me wrong, I think it's great that it will provide all those construction and post-construction jobs, but I can't help but worry about so many of my island friends whose jobs and businesses may suffer or be lost because of this development. I sincerely hope my misgivings are ill founded but given past history...........?


Respectfully,

pat



"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them."
Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: SXMWendell] #49877
04/09/2015 02:15 PM
04/09/2015 02:15 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 304
NC, USA
Durathror Offline
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Durathror  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 304
NC, USA
Quote
SXMWendell said:
Between the cruise ship pier and Chesterfields.

Just adding more concrete to have less of a Caribbean island.

SXM??? Wendell


While I agree in concept, is that actually an area of the island that people will lament being developed? Seems like in terms of natural beauty, the time has already passed for this particular parcel of land.


There's a small fortune to be made in racing; just start with a large one.
Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: Durathror] #49878
04/12/2015 06:27 PM
04/12/2015 06:27 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 352
Pittsburgh, PA
gotaluvit Offline
Traveler
gotaluvit  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 352
Pittsburgh, PA
I agree with Dansc. If this means more of the cruisers stay away from Orient and the French side I am all for it! I think the cruise lines have done more damage to SXM than any good they provide in terms of local jobs but that is just one mans opinion...

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: 4Driver4] #49879
04/12/2015 06:58 PM
04/12/2015 06:58 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
W
wilsonck Offline
Traveler
wilsonck  Offline
Traveler
W
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 837
Florida
Those dollars will never make it back to the US. Unless they want to pay a 39.6% tax. For tax purposes they will stay offshore. Just like all multinationals do.

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: gotaluvit] #49880
04/12/2015 08:45 PM
04/12/2015 08:45 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
Quote
gotaluvit said:
I agree with Dansc. If this means more of the cruisers stay away from Orient and the French side I am all for it! I think the cruise lines have done more damage to SXM than any good they provide in terms of local jobs but that is just one mans opinion...

Many people like us discovered St Maarten via a cruise and then stay on the island later spending money and creating jobs.
I have no problem with the cruise ships coming to port.

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: SXMScubaman] #49881
04/13/2015 12:43 PM
04/13/2015 12:43 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 32
West Michigan
Z
ZekeB Offline
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ZekeB  Offline
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Z
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 32
West Michigan
After 5 cruise visits we have spent 5 different weeks on the French side in the last 4 years. Hopefully the curious ones will venture past that circus, find what the island has to offer, and come to love SXM too. If not, their loss.

Re: New Attraction coming.... good or bad?? [Re: gotaluvit] #49882
04/13/2015 02:16 PM
04/13/2015 02:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,141
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
islandgem Offline
Traveler
islandgem  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,141
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
You must remember that cruise ships often offer tourists their first visit to this island. Tourism is the most important business here and so the cruise ships provide an opportunity for more land visits in the future by those who have loved their cruise experience here. Even though they may not have spent a lot of money on that first cruise visit, they definitely do contribute to the economy in future visits.Also the tour operators appreciate the business which is often substantial. St. Maarten/St. Martin is a beautiful island and should be enjoyed by all seeking whichever type of vacation they prefer.The island is called "the friendly island" and this term should apply to everyone!

We did not find St. Maarten on a cruise, but have many friends that did. These people have been returning to spend several weeks on this island for more than 20 years and definitely have contributed much to the local economy.This new venture which is currently be proposed could be an asset, but we will never know until it becomes a reality, and truly it is not a decision that visitors can vote on. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />





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