In a press release, the Club du Tourisme (formerly the Association des Hôteliers de Saint-Martin) is concerned about the economic future of the island following the return of border controls.
“Three years after Cyclone IRMA and the significant sacrifices and investments made by our players to revive life on our island, 8 months after the serious events linked to the early application of the PPRN by anticipation and its significant negative consequences both on the human and economic, two months after total containment and the abrupt shutdown of our company. A new crisis has been decided and our territory is divided again, but the virus is circulating freely. Our economy is bloodless, our environment scarred, our tourist product, without respect for the Treaty of Concordia and free access with Sint Maarten, unsaleable… Our immediate prospects seem to be mass unemployment and debt bondage. Without a rapid return to public action not only centered on the management of health, regulatory and natural risks - in the short term - without the effective implementation of a development policy adapted to our geographical and cultural reality, tourism and the economy can fade - for the long term - in the northern part of the island for the benefit of assistantship and the pauperization of the population.
Saint Martin tourism professionals wish to recall that there are no unilateral health security measures and we encourage global and regional solidarity as part of the response to COVID-19. There is no economy without the Freedom to move, individual freedom and social progress without the freedom to work and trade, which requires customers ... Our neighbors in Saint-Barthélemy have acted within the framework of a derogation request and we seriously call on the state to show flexibility in the consultation phase underway with Sint Maarten and the COM, and the community to take its responsibilities if necessary.
If it is not, now, announced the reopening of the French part no later than November 2020, XNUMX, there will be no next season!
We assure all of our members, employees, partners, trainers, associates, suppliers, customers and friends who are suffering physically, psychologically, economically wherever they are of our support and energy to work together to overcome these trials ”
(www.lepelican-journal.com)
6,861 total views
No comments