LIAT cuts deal for discount shopping in St Maarten

Shopping in St Maarten

Government officials from the St. Maarten and the regional commuter airline, LIAT, have agreed on a plan to promote St. Maarten’s role as a major eastern Caribbean shopping destination.

Both sides agreed to develop a travel and shopping incentive package that would be aimed at lowering the cost of shopping in St. Maarten for regional travellers. It would include reduced air fares on LIAT and discounted shopping in St. Maarten, as well as options for discounts in other areas such as car rentals, hotel accommodation and restaurants.

The St Maarten government believes it comes at an opportune time and would be targeted at the pre-Christmas shopper in the first instance with the possibility of extending the programme to other periods as well.

LIAT's CEO, Brian Challenger, said in a media release the initiative flowed from the recent Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) State of the Industry Conference in St. Maarten which had identified the need for promoting inter-regional travel and the importance of forging strategic partnerships in this regard.

The officials from St. Maarten and LIAT agreed to meet in a few days time to finalise the mechanics of the programme.