CaribPR Wire

St. Maarten, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, and Grenada boost regional protections for sharks

MAHO, St. Maarten, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Sharks are safer across the Caribbean Sea, with the announcement of four new shark sanctuaries in the region. Prime Minister William Marlin of St. Maarten and Wayne Panton, minister of financial services, commerce, and environment for the Cayman Islands today announced that their exclusive economic zones (EEZs) are completely closed to commercial shark fishing. Additionally, Curacao and Grenada announced that they will establish legislation this year that will protect sharks in their waters.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379765

Government leaders were joined by ocean advocate Sir Richard Branson, as well as by global shark experts and representatives from The Pew Charitable Trusts and other nongovernmental organizations, at a press conference in St. Maarten to champion the new protected areas.

“People from all over the world come to our island to dive and snorkel with our marine wildlife, including sharks and rays,” said Irania Arrindell, St. Maarten’s minister of tourism, economic affairs, transport, and telecommunications. “St. Maarten’s shark sanctuary will help to ensure that our local shark populations exist for future generations and continue to benefit St. Maarten’s marine ecosystem and ecotourism.”

Together, the two new sanctuaries cover a total of 46,190 square miles (119,631 square kilometers), raising the total number of Caribbean sanctuaries to seven.

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Unite founder, said: “We applaud the steps taken by Caribbean island governments to conserve sharks in their waters. To these governments, sharks are worth far more alive than dead. We are delighted and encouraged to see this bold action being taken to protect Caribbean ecosystems and bolster ecotourism industries.”

“St. Maarten and the Cayman Islands have joined a progressive group of leaders in global shark conservation by choosing to fully protect the diverse but vulnerable shark and ray species found in their waters,” said Luke Warwick, director of Pew’s global shark conservation campaign. “We look forward to continued expansion of shark conservation in the Caribbean to secure the region as a safe haven for threatened shark species.”

The announcement came during a three-day shark conservation symposium co-hosted by the government of St. Maarten, the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, the Bahamas National Trust, and The Pew Charitable Trusts. At the symposium, Caribbean leaders had the opportunity to learn from global shark experts, such as Boris Worm, professor in marine conservation biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and discuss shark conservation and shark-related tourism in their jurisdictions.

Since 2009, Pew has worked with governments around the world to establish shark sanctuaries in their territorial waters. The creation of these sanctuaries in the Caribbean brings the total number of sanctuaries worldwide to 14, covering 6 million square miles (15.5 million square kilometers), an area bigger than Canada.

Worldwide, at least 100 million sharks are killed each year in commercial fisheries; nearly 30 percent of all known shark species assessed by scientists are threatened with extinction. Sharks play an important role in maintaining the health of the entire ocean, but they grow and reproduce slowly, which makes them particularly vulnerable to overfishing. Officials in many coastal and island nations recognize sharks’ high value to the dive tourism industry.

“Establishing sanctuaries to protect all sharks makes clear that these top predators warrant the same status as other vulnerable marine wildlife that help attract ecotourism, such as turtles and whales,” Warwick added.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Learn more at www.pewtrusts.org.

Barbara Cvrkel, +1 202-510-5670
[email protected]

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten, Oct. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The 21^st annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference & Trade Show opened today, gathering about 1,000 cruise tourism stakeholders and 100 cruise executives, presidents and CEOs from the 15 FCCA Member Lines, which operate over 100 ships in Caribbean and Latin American waters. The event offers a four-day agenda chock-full of business sessions, networking opportunities and chances to maximize cruise tourism’s impact, along with the attention and knowledge of cruise line personnel who decide where cruise ships call, what to sell onboard and if they should invest in destination infrastructure.

“The [FCCA Conference & Trade Show] gives you direct contact with some of the most influential decision makers in the cruise industry,” says Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line CEO and FCCA chairman.

The focus is on developing business, relationships and knowledge. The Conference’s business sessions offer this through one-on-one meetings, where attendees have up to three meetings with their selected cruise executives. Plus workshops share the executives’, presidents’, CEOs’ and stakeholders’ insight to help attendees learn about topics such as the cruise lines’ latest happenings and route for the future; creating and maintaining a successful tour product; developing a port in partnership with the FCCA, cruise lines and the private/public sectors; and increasing cruise tourism through a unified vision, collaboration between the private and public sectors, and continual product development and innovation.

“FCCA events always give me an opportunity to meet valuable industry stakeholders,” shares Adam Goldstein, president and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “These are the people who have ideas and projects I want, and need, to know about.”

The Trade Show—the largest in the event’s history—allows exhibitors to target the influential audience looking to source new business and expand existing business. Any booth puts spotlights a product, company or destination, and specialized pavilions showcase a large company or destination as a team, with a roster including destination ministries, port authorities, tour operators and vendors.

Exposure is guaranteed through numerous events hosted there, such as a cruise executive preview before the official opening, an exclusive cocktail reception for cruise executives and Platinum Members, the Conference’s Wednesday night social function and the first FCCA Table Tennis Tournament, hosted by Adam Goldstein.

Traffic is also driven by a business center and the Trade Show’s location itself, with all attendees entering and passing through to access the Conference’s meetings, workshops, business sessions and registration.

Interaction between Conference delegates, Trade Show exhibitors and cruise line decision makers is further spurred by social functions planned by St. Maarten. And St. Maarten certainly plans to engage the attendees, as Port St. Maarten partnered with the government and local businesses to display its exciting setting, activities and WOW factor through some of the same experiences and venues that cruise passengers see and do.

In all, the FCCA Conference & Trade Show creates the perfect forum for exchanging information, sharing ideas and forging relationships. The continued involvement and invaluable insight of some of the cruise industry’s key decision makers, along with a ratio of about one cruise executive per 10 attendees, make the event one of the best ways to directly target the cruise industry and maximize its benefits.

About the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association
The FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization composed of 15 member cruise lines operating over 100 vessels in Floridian, Caribbean and Latin American waters. Created in 1972, the FCCA’s mandate is to provide a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issue and to develop bilateral relationships with destinations’ private and public sectors. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors. For more information, visit F-CCA.com, the FCCA on Facebook, and @FCCAupdates on Twitter.

Media contact: Omari Breakenridge
[email protected]
Tel: 954-441-8881

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla., Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) annual keynote event, the Conference & Trade Show, has a 20-year history of increasing cruise tourism’s impact for its host destinations by spotlighting their products, experiences and infrastructure to the industry’s most influential decision makers—over 100 executives, presidents and CEOs from FCCA’s 15 Member Lines, which operate over 100 ships in Caribbean and Latin American waters.

St. Maarten is looking to build onto their past growth by hosting their second FCCA Conference & Trade Show from October 6 – 10. The destination knows the significance of hosting this event because of their progress after their first Conference in 2003. In 2001, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies reported 875,540 passenger arrivals. This number rose 70 percent to 1,490,386 in 2005, just two years after hosting the Conference.

As the destination knows, these numbers extend far beyond the cruise pier; they impact the entire economy. According to the Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) 2012 study, Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies, the average expenditure per passenger in St. Maarten was $185.40, which benefitted numerous industries through purchases of goods that included food and beverage at restaurants and bars, clothing, shore excursions, ground transportation, local crafts and souvenirs, watches and jewelry, perfumes and cosmetics, electronics, entertainment/night clubs/casinos, retail purchases of liquor, and telephone and internet.

However, this is hardly the only economic contribution provided by cruise tourism. The same study showed that the average expenditure per crew in St. Maarten was $135.50 for similar products and services. Plus it revealed the direct and indirect employment generated by the cruise industry, totaling 8,123 jobs and $159.8 million in employee wages.

By these numbers, St. Maarten’s 70 percent increase after hosting their first Conference would represent an increase of $114 million in passenger spending alone, along with the coinciding growth of crew spending, cruise line spending, and employment.

Projecting this same growth after this year’s Conference would be aggressive, considering that in 2014 St. Maarten expects 1.67 million passenger arrivals onboard 523 vessels from FCCA Member Lines alone. But a single cruise ship has a large economic wake. BREA’s figures show that just one average cruise vessel—130,000 GRT, 1,040 feet long, carrying 3,000 passengers and 500 crewmembers—would generate $556,200 in passenger spending and $67,750 in crew spending, along with roughly $15,000 in port fees, totaling $638,950 in direct economic contribution, not including employment and other indirect contributions.

Projecting a more conservative growth rate of 20 percent, or 105 additional cruise ship calls, would mean an extra $67 million per year directly contributed to St. Maarten’s economy. Plus a 20 percent increase in cruise tourism-impacted employment would represent 1,625 more jobs with $32 million in wages.

Considering this potential economic impact, it becomes easy to understand why St. Maarten again decided to invest in its entire destination’s economy by hosting the FCCA Conference & Trade Show.

About the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association

Created in 1972, the FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization that provides a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issue and builds bilateral relationships with destinations’ private and public sectors. By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operating practices, the FCCA works with governments, ports and private sector representatives to maximize cruise passenger, crew and cruise line spending, as well as enhance the destination experience and increase the amount of cruise passengers returning as stay-over visitors. For more information, visit F-CCA.com, the FCCA on Facebook, and @FCCAupdates on Twitter.

CONTACT:  Omari Breakenridge 954 441 8881 [email protected]

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Aug. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Now, it will be easier than ever to make your dream of traveling the Caribbean come true. Seaborne Airlines, the fastest growing airline in the Caribbean, announced that they will be launching the “Fly Anywhere you like for as many times as you like” promotion for $699*.  This promotion offers a customer the option to book as many trips as they like, to travel as often as they like, between September 3^rd, 2014 and November 17^th, 2014. To take advantage of this unprecedented offer, customers must call Reservations to book or to even buy the offer for another individual as a sweet gift **.

“We wanted to give our customers an excuse to see the beauty of the Caribbean by taking multiple trips for one low price.  With just two trips, this can pay for itself.  Whether to sightsee or visit friends and relatives, we hope that many will experience Seaborne’s exemplary service under this promotion.” said Gary D. Foss, president and chief executive officer of Seaborne Airlines.

Reservations can be made by calling: 1-866-359-8784 or 787-946-7800.

With service to 15 airports throughout the Caribbean; connecting service to American, Jet Blue and Delta at San Juan, Puerto Rico; two pilots on every flight; a flight attendant on our new Saab 340 aircraft and the outstanding dependability, Seaborne is becoming the preferred regional airline in the Caribbean.

*Taxes / fees still apply per booking. Certain conditions and restrictions may apply. Passenger cannot have more than two (2) outstanding reservations at a time.

** Must have passport information for international bookings.

About Seaborne Airlines
Seaborne Airlines has been operating in the Caribbean for over 21 years, carrying over two and a half million customers safely.  Seaborne operates over 2,100 monthly departures throughout the Caribbean to San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Thomas Seaplane, St. Croix, St. Croix Seaplane, Dominica, Fort de France, Martinique, Point a Pitre, Guadeloupe, La Romana, DR, Punta Cana, DR, Santo Domingo, DR, St. Maarten, St. Kitts and Nevis.

CONTACT: Sandra Colon Perez, [email protected], +1-866-359-8784 or +1-787-946-7800

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla., April 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ – Registration is now open for the 2014 FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show, taking place in St. Maarten from October 6-10, 2014. The event will gather over 1,000 stakeholders from all sectors the cruise tourism industry, along with over 100 FCCA Member Line cruise executives, presidents and CEOs.

Attendees will have access to these key decision makers during a four-day series that balance business sessions and networking opportunities. These include one-on-one meetings with cruise executives of attendees’ choice, which offer a chance to promote a product or receive individualized input; social functions that foster interaction in a laid-back, engaging atmosphere; and workshops focused on current issues with panels comprised of knowledgeable industry professionals and cruise executives, along with the presidents and CEOs heading a roundtable discussion.

In addition to these resources, attendees have access to St. Maarten’s exciting setting and activities, with the Port of St. Maarten, the government and local businesses linking to present a WOW factor and show what cruise passengers can experience during a stay-over visit. Together, this creates the perfect forum for exchanging information and industry trends, sharing ideas, and cultivating valuable business relationships. Plus with an attendance of about one cruise executives per 10 attendees, attendees have one of the best chances to target and gain insight from cruise lines’ key decision makers who influence what goes onboard and where ships call.

The Trade Show expands this target, allowing exhibitors to capture the attention of this prominent audience. Any booth puts their product, company, or destination on attendees’ and executives’ minds, but special destination pavilion options provide the greatest impact at the Trade Show. They showcase a destination product as a team—from vendors and tour operators to destination ministries and port operators.

So if you want to establish or grow your cruise industry business, mark your calendars for October 6-10 and book your tickets for St. Maarten.

To register and/or learn more, please visit https://www.regonline.com/fccastmaarten.

CONTACT: Terri Cannici, 954-441-8881

ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands, March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Starting today, Seaborne Airlines, the fastest growing airline in the Caribbean, begins new non-stop daily service from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) to The Princess Julianna International Airport (SXM) in St. Maarten becoming the 19^th airport Seaborne has launched during its expansion throughout the Caribbean.

From the breathtaking cliffs of Cupecoy to gorgeous sandy beaches like Maho Beach, St. Maarten boasts many popular attractions and night life, only minutes away from Puerto Rico.

Non-Stop Daily Flights

San Juan, PR (SJU) Departure Time 6:45pm

St. Maarten (SXM) Arrival Time 7:45pm

St. Maarten (SXM) Departure Time 8:00am

San Juan, PR (SJU) Arrival Time 9:10am

Fares from San Juan to St. Maarten begin as low as $88 one way, taxes and fees included. Flights can be reserved via SeaborneAirlines.com, Expedia, Travelocity or through your local travel agency.

“St. Maarten is yet another exciting destination in the Caribbean that Seaborne is offering to our customers, as we build important trade and tourism links throughout the Caribbean” said Gary D. Foss, president and chief executive officer Seaborne Airlines.

Seaborne has shown dramatic growth during the past months. Just recently, Seaborne announced service to its 18^th airport, Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ) with non-stop service from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) effective April 15, 2014.   Santo Domingo will be Seaborne’s fourth destination within the Dominican Republic, the others being La Romana, started in December, 2013; Punta Cana beginning February 14, 2014 and Santiago beginning March 15th, 2014. For more information please visit www.seaborneairlines.com or follow us in social media networks: facebook/seaborne and @flyseaborne.

Seaborne recently announced the relocation of its headquarters to San Juan, Puerto Rico to be effective in March, 2014.

About Seaborne Airlines
Seaborne Airlines has been operating in the Caribbean for over 20 years, carrying over two million customers safely. With over 2,100 monthly departures to eighteen airports planned by April, 2014. Seaborne serves San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, Vieques, St. Thomas airport and seaplane base, St. Croix airport and seaplane base, Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, La Romana, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, Nevis, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in February, 2014; and St. Maarten and Santiago, Dominican Republic in March 2014 .  All flights operate with two pilots and twin engines under Federal Air Regulation Part 121, the strictest code of the US Federal Air Regulation governing air travel.

– Puerto Rico’s largest carrier will add to its 27 daily departures from San Juan this summer by launching an eighth non-stop destination this fall –

 NEW YORK, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU), the largest carrier in Puerto Rico in terms of capacity, is making it even easier to travel between San Juan and neighboring Caribbean islands with the announcement of plans to launch nonstop daily service to St. Maarten (SXM), subject to receipt of government approval. This new route will be the value airline’s eighth non-stop destination out of San Juan and its third out of St. Maarten.

 (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110404/NY76997LOGO )

 Flights between San Juan and St. Maarten will go on sale at www.jetblue.com soon, with service to begin November 17. The new service will be JetBlue’s second intra-Caribbean route, with existing service between San Juan and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

 ”We are thrilled to announce further growth to our San Juan focus city,” said Robin Hayes, Chief Commercial Officer for JetBlue. “The support of the Puerto Rican community has been remarkable and we look forward to continuing to provide them more options for travel throughout the Caribbean region.”

 ”Increasing air access to Puerto Rico is essential for our tourism industry, commercial development, and homeport cruise market,” added the Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico, Jose R. Perez-Riera. “We are grateful for the support that great airline partners like JetBlue have given to our market. This new service strengthens our position as a hub of the Caribbean and is the result of a successful working relationship that we have maintained with our partner airlines.”

 This summer, JetBlue will have 27 daily departures from San Juan and 34 daily departures from Puerto Rico, including Aguadilla and Ponce. This new route will provide convenient connections to St. Maarten from New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK), Boston’s Logan (BOS), Orlando International (MCO), and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL) airports. The new service follows the recent addition of flights from San Juan to both Tampa and Jacksonville.

 ”It is of high importance to improve regional air access in the Caribbean for the benefit of all the economies of the region,” said Jaime A. Lopez-Diaz, Chief Development Officer of the Department of Economic Development and Commerce of Puerto Rico. “This new JetBlue service is a perfect example of how working together, the region can increase the supply of air traffic.”

 ”The Puerto Rico Tourism Company is enthusiastic about JetBlue’s new service from Puerto Rico to St. Maarten, as it provides essential access to and from the Dutch/French Caribbean, one our top ten markets in the region,” said Mario Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. “Visitors from St. Maarten/St. Martin visit Puerto Rico for diverse reasons like shopping, medical, and sports and cultural events, among others. This market generated an average of 1,900 room nights in calendar year 2010, principally in small and medium hotels. This new service strengthens Puerto Rico’s position as the main connecting point to numerous destinations within the region.”

 ”I am pleased to learn of JetBlue’s decision to begin servicing the SJU - SXM route,” said the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs and Transportation of St. Maarten, Honorable Franklin Meyers. “Following our recent discussions in New York, JetBlue has proven to be a valuable partner since its initial entry into St. Maarten in 2008, providing daily service from New York as well as servicing St. Maarten from Boston. I am confident that together we will grow the San Juan – SXM route. This new service will open up the possibility for potential visitors from key source markets besides Puerto Rico, namely, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando and Boston, to come to the destination.”

 ”The JetBlue, St. Maarten partnership has changed the landscape of tourism in St. Maarten,” said Director of Tourism of St. Maarten, Regina LaBega. “The airfares from key source markets, for example, have become more affordable, therefore resulting in a larger volume of visitors to the destination as well as a higher visitor expenditure on island. The new SJU-SXM service by JetBlue, using the famous Embraer aircraft will certainly boost traffic in both directions, consequently contributing positively to our economy.”

 Service to St. Maarten will be operated by JetBlue’s Embraer E190 aircraft, offering two-by-two, comfortable all-leather seating. The airline’s customers also enjoy a first-checked bag free (a), award-winning customer service and unlimited, complimentary snacks and drinks.

 About JetBlue Airways

New York-based JetBlue Airways has created a new airline category based on value, service and style. In 2010, the carrier ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Low-Cost Carriers in North America” by J.D. Power and Associates, a customer satisfaction recognition received for the sixth year in a row. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch) and super-spacious Even More Legroom seats. JetBlue is also America’s first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue’s control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 64 cities with more than 700 daily flights. Later this year JetBlue plans to introduce service to Anchorage, Alaska, and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. With JetBlue, all seats are assigned, all fares are one-way, and an overnight stay is never required. For information call +1 800 538 2583 from the U.S.A., TTY/TDD +1 800 336 5530, or visit www.jetblue.com.

 (a) Baggage weight and size limits apply