While it is not a big player by any means in terms of tourism numbers in the Caribbean region, tiny St. Eustatius, known affectionately as Statia, is determined to make its case heard.
The eight-square-mile Dutch island, with a population of approximately 4,000, is served by frequent 20-minute flights on Winair from St. Maarten.
A few thousand visitors visit each year to walk the few black-sand beaches, hike the mountain called the Quill, dine in the small restaurants in the capital of Oranjestad, explore dive sites and bed down in a handful of small inns and hotels.
The island is yet to be discovered by most travelers and while its size and infrastructure could never support mass tourism, the Statia Tourism Development Foundation has launched a campaign called “I am Tourism” to raise awareness among the local community about the importance of tourism, via a series of community meetings on the island.
Every month a different tourism topic is highlighted, and categories include sports, agro-tourism, voluntourism and heritage and community tourism.
The campaign will run through mid-2016.
“The objective of the program is to create tourism awareness within the community to get citizens more tourism-minded and involved through activities and information,” said Charles Lindo, director of the foundation.
“The island is on the cutting edge of tourism development, and the government has recognized that tourism is one of the key economic pillars in the Caribbean," Lindo added. "As a Caribbean island, Statia deserves a slice of the tourism pie.”
http://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Insights/A-tourism-campaign-for-locals-on-Statia
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