St. Maarten’s tourism sector is on a sizzling trajectory, with both air and cruise arrivals surging in the second quarter of 2025 — making it one of the fastest-growing destinations in the Caribbean right now.
The island welcomed 209,876 airport passenger arrivals at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) between April and June, marking a 16.9 percent increase compared to the 179,552 recorded in the same period last year.
Officials note that the figures now reflect greater accuracy and reliability, with arrivals based on consistently applied criteria that exclude Sint Maarten residents, transit passengers and transfer passengers. The new methodology provides a clearer benchmark of actual visitor traffic through the airport.
The cruise sector also posted strong growth. Preliminary data show 236,391 cruise passengers arrived in the second quarter, a 14 percent jump compared to 207,428 in 2024.
The monthly totals highlight the steady rise: April 2025 saw 113,899 cruise arrivals, followed by 70,019 in May and 52,473 in June — all well above 2024’s comparative performance.
Together, these indicators underscore St. Maarten’s continued strength as one of the Caribbean’s premier tourism hubs, with a vibrant port of call and a gateway airport fueling steady visitor growth.
The growth news comes as JetBlue just announced the launch of a major new route to St Maarten.
Caribbean Journal Staff
2025-09-11 20:05:00