ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius – Five international travel professionals recently visited St. Eustatius on a familiarisation trip organised by the St. Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation (STDF), following contacts made during the recent SMART tourism tradeshow in St. Maarten.
The visitors, representing travel companies from Germany, the Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, explored the island’s tourism offerings, including its diving opportunities, nature, cultural heritage and hospitality sector.
According to STDF, the visit was intended to strengthen relationships with international travel partners and encourage future bookings by giving agents first-hand experience of the destination.
The familiarisation trip followed Statia’s participation in the SMART tradeshow, which brought together tourism buyers and sellers from 27 countries. STDF said the island generated strong interest from travel professionals looking for authentic and sustainable Caribbean destinations.
Visibility increase
Tourism Director Maya Pandt said participation in the tradeshow and the follow-up visit form part of the island’s strategy to increase its visibility in regional, European and North American tourism markets.
