The way Valerie Damaseau sees it, the reason for her recent visit to Canada was simple: “To bring some sunshine into your lives!” And while she may have been speaking hypothetically, as president of the tourist office of sunny St. Martin, it didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility.
Indeed, Damaseau said it was important to do so periodically, maintaining a presence in one of the top markets for the French Caribbean island (uniquely shared with Dutch St. Maarten), while at the same time updating the trade and consumers through various events on various islands trends and happenings.
One of those themes on this visit was gastronomy, with a nod to the just-concluding St. Martin Culinary Festival (Nov. 11-22), which highlights the island’s unique blend of traditional French, Creole, and international cuisine, prompting Damaseau to lay claim for St. Martin as “the culinary capital of the Caribbean.”
The cuisine also reflects St. Martin’s status as an overall melting pot, with more than 120 nationalities represented on the island, creating a uniquely diverse culture in many aspects beyond food, Damaseau, adds, though she summarizes: “We are French with a Caribbean flair.”
Of course, Damaseau acknowledges that Canadians are mostly interested in St. Martin’s abundant sunshine and warmth and there is plenty of that to spare she says, noting, “We are 37 square miles, and we have a beach per square mile – so we have 37 beaches!”
At the same time, visitors can also get a Dutch experience on the shared island (with a “non-existent” border) including plenty of activities and watersports, plus duty-free shopping.
And while she says most visitors won’t be able to tell which side of the island they’re on, other than by the accents, she characterizes the French side as more intimate, being quieter with boutique hotels and fine wine and food, while the Dutch side bustles with nightlife, casinos, and activities, and caters more to mass tourism.
And being so small, visitors can easily rent a vehicle – car, jeep, ATV; or take a taxi or hire a private chauffeur – and see both sides in a day, she adds.
High end
With a million cruise passengers a year coming to St. Martin/St. Maarten, Damaseau says that cruising is big business for the island, but she notes that the French side caters to a more high-end clientele reflecting St. Martin’s positioning as a high-end product, including its boutique hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas. The 258-room Secrets in L’Anse Marcel is the only all-inclusive on the French side of the island.
Still there is plenty to do, from hiking to horseback riding, as well as a wealth of watersports, like windsurfing, sailing, or scuba diving; or simply strolling the charming streets of Marigot.
For thrill seekers, Jet Extrême in Nettlé Bay offers jet skiing, hoverboarding, flyboarding, as well as paddleboarding and tubing. Just a 30-minute trip from Simpson Bay where the cruise ships dock, visitors have a choice of four-hour adventures including beach visits, swimming with turtles and fish, a beach-side lunch and getting out over the water on a hoverboard or jet ski.
Events
Events and festivals also take place all year-round (often doubled up on the Dutch side). In 2024 they will include:
• “Les Mardis” de Grand Case (January – April)
• St. Martin Carnival (February)
• St Maarten Heineken Regatta (1st weekend in March)
• SXM Music Festival (March)
• St. Maarten Carnival (April – May)
• Oualichi Festival (July)
• Love Days – weekend concerts (May/June)
• Gastronomy Festival (November)
Many Canadians fly down just for an event, Damaseau says, adding, “You can definitely get an event that is tailor-made for your liking – whether you’re coming with your family, or coming on a guys trip, or your wedding/honeymoons, or just coming by yourself.”
As for weddings, Damaseau says it’s an increasingly popular market for St. Martin, with documentation now available to be done online.
Lift
A five-hour flight from Toronto and Martinique, St. Martin is served by four Canadian carriers – Air Canada, WestJet, Transat and Sunwing – via Princess Juliana Airport (SXM).
It’s no surprise to Damaseau that Canadian is consistently among St. Marten’s top three markets, and boasts such a wealth of tour operator and airline partners. After all, she says, “(Canada) is not a market we neglect; it is a market we continue to invest in.”
And, no doubt, because she brings sunshine!