St. Maarten Prepares for SMART 2027 as Jamaica, Curaçao, and Regional Travel Leaders Expand Caribbean Tourism Marketplace

St. Maarten is preparing to host the St. Maarten Regional Annual Tradeshow (SMART 2027) from June 14 to 18, 2027, uniting tourism leaders from Jamaica, Curaçao, and 25 other Caribbean destinations to expand multi-island travel networks.

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten — Tourism authorities including the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, the St. Martin Tourism Office, the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA), and the Club du Tourisme have confirmed dates for SMART 2027. Following the 18th edition held June 22–26, 2026, at the JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa, the trade gathering connects regional hoteliers, airlines, and tour operators with international buyers from North America, Europe, and Latin America.

Data from the 2026 tradeshow demonstrated substantial expansion across key metrics, recording 57 buyer companies (an 11.8% increase over 2025), 62 supplier companies (+40.9%), 30 vendor businesses (+50%), and a 40% expansion in total exhibition floor space. Participating delegations completed over 1,500 pre-scheduled business appointments, establishing commercial agreements for multi-destination Caribbean itineraries.

Tradeshow Growth Metrics: SMART 2025 vs. SMART 2026 Comparison

The commercial growth of SMART reflects St. Maarten’s position as a primary transport and aviation hub for the Northeastern Caribbean.

Event Indicator	SMART 2025 Baseline	SMART 2026 Result	Year-on-Year Growth
Buyer Companies	51 Companies	57 Companies	+11.8%
Supplier Companies	44 Companies	62 Companies	+40.9%
Vendor Businesses	20 Businesses	30 Businesses	+50.0%
Exhibition Floor Area	Baseline Standard	+40% Expansion	+40.0%
B2B Scheduled Meetings	—	1,500+ Appointments	Major B2B Expansion
Countries & Territories	29 Reported	27 Verified	Regional Scope
Next Event Confirmed Dates	—	June 14–18, 2027	Confirmed Return

Participating Destinations and Regional Tourism Scope

Delegations from 27 countries and territories participated in the tradeshow network. Publicly identified regional destinations include Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saba, St. Eustatius (Statia), St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, St. Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Destination	Identified Delegation Activity	Strategic Regional Role
St. Maarten / St. Martin	Host Destination (Binational Island)	Northeastern Caribbean aviation and maritime hub
Jamaica	Tourism Board & Resort Delegation	Major Caribbean market linked to US and European buyers
Curaçao	Dutch Caribbean Delegation	Southern Caribbean hub connecting regional flight routes
Montserrat	35 Targeted B2B Appointments	Small-island eco-tourism & regional marketing partnership
Anguilla & Saba	Regional Tourism Boards	Short-haul ferry & inter-island aviation connectivity
St. Kitts & Nevis	Eastern Caribbean Representation	Multi-destination luxury & heritage travel packages

Statistical reports from the Montserrat delegation highlight the event's micro-level commercial value: delegates conducted 35 individual business appointments engaging trade partners from St. Maarten, the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, and the Dominican Republic.

St. Maarten Tourism Performance: 2025 Air and Cruise Arrival Benchmark

Commercial agreements finalized at SMART operate against strong underlying visitor arrival data across both air passenger movements and cruise maritime calls.

In 2025, St. Maarten recorded 855,994 total air passenger arrivals under the government's digital immigration tracking system, alongside 1,597,940 cruise passenger arrivals across 592 ship calls.

2025 Source Market / Quarter	Air Passenger Arrivals	Market Share (%)	Cruise Passenger Arrivals
United States	462,038	53.9%	—
North America Combined (US & Canada)	541,615	63.3%	—
European Union Total	221,179	25.8%	—
France	87,952	10.3%	—
Netherlands	85,741	10.0%	—
Caribbean Region	43,986	5.1%	—
Central & South America	25,484	3.0%	—
Q1 Peak Travel Window	256,923	30.0%	635,968 (39.8%)
Q2 Spring Window	209,877	24.5%	236,391 (14.8%)
Q3 Summer Window	168,915	19.7%	164,881 (10.3%)
Q4 Autumn/Winter Window	220,279	25.7%	560,700 (35.1%)
2025 Annual Total	855,994	100.0%	1,597,940 (592 calls)

Cruise passenger arrivals grew from 232,519 in 2021 to 1,597,940 in 2025, while annual cruise ship calls increased from 190 to 592—representing a 15% increase in ship calls between 2024 and 2025.

Traveler Logistics Guide: Navigating St. Maarten Inter-Island Transfers & Entry Policies

For international travelers utilizing St. Maarten as a springboard to explore Anguilla, Saba, St. Barths, or Statia, ground and maritime transit logistics require careful scheduling.

1. Digital Immigration Clearance and Airport E-Gates

• Online ED Card Requirement: All arriving passengers at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) must complete the digital Electronic Entry/Exit Card (ED Card) prior to boarding.
• Biometric E-Gates: SXM Airport features automated biometric clearance gates for passport holders from the EU, US, Canada, and select territories, accelerating arrival processing times.

2. Maritime Ferry Links to Neighboring Islands

• Anguilla Ferry Terminals: Frequent high-speed passenger ferries operate from Marigot Ferry Terminal (French side) to Blowing Point, Anguilla (20-minute transit). Public ferries depart every 45 minutes.
• Saba and St. Barths Connections: Edge Ferry and Voyager lines run scheduled daily departures from Simpson Bay and Oyster Pond to Saba (90 minutes) and St. Barths (45 minutes).

3. Optimal Layover Allocations for Regional Flights

• Inter-Island Air Transfers: Regional carriers such as Winair operate short-haul flights linking SXM to Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Kitts. Allow a minimum layover buffer of 2 hours when transferring from international long-haul arrivals to regional propeller aircraft.

Infrastructure Impact Assessment: Multi-Island Tourism Networks

The commercial agreements structured during SMART 2027 redefine how regional destination marketing organizations leverage shared transit infrastructure.

• Positioning St. Maarten as a Multi-Island Hub: Utilizing Princess Juliana Airport's extensive North American direct flight network (541,615 annual arrivals) allows smaller neighboring islands like Saba and Statia to capture long-haul visitors without maintaining expensive international runways.
• Expanding Binational Tourism: The dual identity of Dutch St. Maarten and French Saint-Martin provides visitors access to over 37 beaches, diverse culinary scenes in Grand Case, and duty-free shopping in Philipsburg within a single island landmass.
• Strengthening Off-Peak Travel Windows: Scheduling SMART in mid-June supports hotel occupancy during the transition into the summer trade period, helping balance regional tourism revenues.

FAQ: SMART 2027 St. Maarten Regional Tourism Summit

When and where will SMART 2027 take place?
SMART 2027 is scheduled for June 14 to 18, 2027, in St. Maarten, organized by local and regional tourism trade associations.

Which destinations participate in the SMART tradeshow?
Over 27 countries and territories participate, including St. Maarten/St. Martin, Jamaica, Curaçao, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.

How many air and cruise passengers visited St. Maarten in 2025?
In 2025, St. Maarten recorded 855,994 air passenger arrivals and 1,597,940 cruise passengers across 592 ship calls.

Can travelers island-hop from St. Maarten to nearby Caribbean islands?
Yes. St. Maarten serves as a regional transit hub with daily ferry links to Anguilla, St. Barths, and Saba, alongside short Winair flights to Statia and St. Kitts.

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