by Brian Major
Last updated: 3:25 PM ET, Mon September 29, 2025
Travel to St. Maarten surged in the second quarter of 2025, with airport arrivals up 16.9 percent and cruise ship arrivals rising by 14 percent, carrying through to a “record-breaking” summer, according to St. Maarten Tourism Bureau officials.
New and expanded facilities have emerged to support the visitor growth. At Princess Juliana International Airport, a newly opened arrivals hall has been accompanied by the implementation of a state-of-the-art automated border control system, which consists of a digital entry form and biometric integration.
Airlift into the destination is also growing as several carriers have announced new routes. American Airlines and United Airlines will launch service from Chicago in November 2026. JetBlue will launch a nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale, four times a week, starting in December 2025.
Also, Southwest Airlines will start service to St. Maarten from Orlando and Baltimore beginning in April 2026.
In terms of accommodations, St. Maarten has welcomed new luxury developments, including the JW Marriott St. Maarten, which opened in 2024.
“The St. Maarten Government, Tourism Bureau and Princess Juliana International Airport have worked hand-in-hand to elevate the St. Maarten travel experience by synchronizing efforts across airport investments and improvements, as well as hospitality support and development to meet the increasing demand,” said. May-Ling Chun, St. Maarten’s director of tourism.
“Ongoing participation in key industry conferences along with targeted marketing and airline meetings has been a key driver in expanding airlift into St. Maarten,” she added.
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