St. Maarten positions as year-round destination for Canadian travelers

TORONTO, CANADA--St. Maarten is seeing increased summer interest from Canadian travelers, supported by expanded airlift from Toronto, renewed fall service from Montreal, a broad range of accommodations and a growing calendar of festivals and experiential events, according to updates shared during the One Caribbean Canada Media Awards in Toronto.

The event, held May 21 at Old Mill Toronto, brought together Caribbean destination representatives and tourism partners for a luncheon, awards ceremony and networking sessions, offering media and trade partners a regional snapshot of tourism growth plans and new developments across the Caribbean.

Representing the St. Maarten Tourism Office in Canada through VoX International, Cari Marotta said the destination is benefiting from stronger connectivity and a shift away from being viewed primarily as a seasonal destination.

“St. Maarten used to be more of a seasonal destination but now WestJet and Air Canada have direct flights from Toronto in the summer, Air Transat will pick up in the fall from Montreal plus there’ll be additional flights with WestJet and Air Canada,” Marotta said.

She noted that more Canadian travelers are discovering the advantages of visiting St. Maarten during the lower season, including access to the same island activities with fewer crowds and often better pricing.

“You get all the same activities without the crowds and often at better pricing,” she said.

Marotta also emphasized that St. Maarten can appeal to budget-conscious travelers because of the diversity of its accommodation sector. The island offers everything from apartments and self-catering units to luxury resorts, giving visitors flexibility in how they plan and manage their vacation spending.

“Plus, there are fabulous grocery stores, local restaurants and roadside barbecue spots called lolos where travelers can eat very affordably,” she said.

St. Maarten also continues to position itself around experiential travel, culture and events. The island’s calendar includes the Flavors food festival, AFKA Afro-Karibe Festival, the Heineken Regatta and SXM Music Festival, all of which help showcase the island beyond its beaches.

“We’re known as the Friendly Island,” Marotta said. “People really want to share their stories and culture with visitors.”

The St. Maarten update formed part of a broader Caribbean tourism showcase in Toronto, where several destinations reported strong Canadian demand, increased airlift, new hotel developments and growing interest in culture, nature and authentic local experiences.

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘝𝘰𝘟 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭’𝘴 𝘑𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘯 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 (𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘪 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘢, 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘖𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦.

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