Clyde van Putten: St. Eustatius lacks clear tourism vision

ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius – PLP founder Clyde van Putten says St. Eustatius still lacks a clear vision for developing its tourism sector, questioning whether introducing a tourism tax makes sense while the island continues to attract relatively few visitors.

Speaking recently on his radio program Statia Hard Talk, Van Putten referred to discussions about introducing a tourism tax. While he did not reject the principle of visitors contributing financially, he questioned the timing.

“I am not saying that tourists can’t be charged a few dollars which will benefit the island, but we get few tourists as it is,” Van Putten said.

According to Van Putten, the more fundamental problem is that the island lacks a clear tourism vision. Government indicated last year that work was underway on a new tourism vision and strategic tourism plan, but little has been heard publicly in recent months about the status of those plans or when they will be presented.

Van Putten’s criticism reflects concerns that have also been expressed within the island’s tourism sector. Several entrepreneurs have questioned whether private investment in accommodation and other tourism facilities is being sufficiently matched by Government efforts to develop and promote Statia as a destination.

Those concerns also find some support in recent research. A white paper by the Rosen Research Team describes Statia’s current tourism management as fragmented and lacking clear objectives, with insufficient coordination and limited involvement of local businesses and residents. The researchers recommend a fundamental restructuring of tourism governance, including the creation of a Tourism Council and a professional Tourism Corporation.

Visitor fee as part of broader strategy

Interestingly, the researchers do see a role for a visitor fee similar to Bonaire’s. Their proposal, however, places such a fee within a much broader strategy in which Government would first invest in building a functioning tourism organization and the proceeds would subsequently help finance tourism development, infrastructure and marketing.