Jamaica Aligns With Curaçao and More as St. Maarten’s SMART 2027 Connects Caribbean Travel Leaders

Jamaica aligns with Curaçao and more Caribbean destinations as St. Maarten prepares for SMART 2027, bringing Caribbean travel leaders together. Jamaica and Curaçao are among the destinations connected through this expanding Caribbean tourism network, while St. Maarten remains the host destination for the major travel gathering. As SMART 2027 approaches, travel leaders will explore new partnerships, tourism opportunities and experiences designed to strengthen Caribbean travel. Moreover, Jamaica, Curaçao and more regional destinations will gain valuable opportunities to connect with international travel buyers. Travel And Tour World urges global travellers to continue reading as this story explores how St. Maarten’s SMART 2027 could shape future Caribbean travel.

SMART 2027 St. Maarten: Detailed Tourism Data, Participating Caribbean Destinations and Visitor Statistics

SMART 2027 Puts St. Maarten at the Centre of Caribbean Tourism Networking

SMART 2027 will return to St. Maarten from June 14 to 18, 2027, continuing an event that has developed into one of the Northeastern Caribbean’s major tourism marketplaces.

The 2026 edition provides the clearest indication of the scale expected for the next gathering. SMART 2026 featured 57 buyer companies, 62 supplier companies and 30 vendor businesses, while delegates represented 27 countries and territories. The exhibition area was also expanded by 40% compared with the previous edition.

The event generated more than 1,500 scheduled business appointments, creating a substantial marketplace for hotels, tourism boards, airlines, tour operators, attractions and travel sellers.

For travellers, those figures matter because tourism trade events can influence the products that eventually reach consumers. New hotel partnerships, destination packages, regional itineraries, air connections and island-hopping programmes can all emerge from business relationships established at events such as SMART.

SMART 2026 Data Shows How Quickly the Event Has Expanded

SMART’s 2026 edition was the 18th edition of the annual tradeshow and was held from June 22 to 26 at the JW Marriott St. Maarten Beach Resort & Spa in Dawn Beach.

The event’s buyer network increased from 51 companies in 2025 to 57 in 2026, equivalent to an increase of almost 11.8%.

Supplier participation rose from 44 to 62 companies, representing an increase of about 40.9%.

Vendor participation increased from 20 to 30 businesses, a rise of 50%.

The exhibition area itself expanded by 40%.

These numbers show that SMART is not simply maintaining an established trade-show format. The event is widening its commercial network and increasing the number of businesses able to meet international buyers.

SMART 2026 Participation Snapshot

The 2025 and 2026 country figures should not be treated as a simple year-on-year decline. The published descriptions use different participation counts and categories. The more consistent indicators are the buyer, supplier and vendor totals.

The 27-Country Network Gives SMART a Regional Reach

SMART 2026 attracted tourism professionals from 27 countries and territories, according to event coverage.

Publicly identified participating destinations included Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Maarten, St. Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

The event also brought buyers from markets in North America, Europe, South America and the Caribbean. Montserrat’s delegation, for example, conducted 35 business-to-business appointments with tourism companies and partners from St. Maarten/St. Martin, the United States, Netherlands, Spain and the Dominican Republic.

Because an official complete 27-country participant register was not publicly available in the sources reviewed, the list below deliberately contains only destinations that were publicly identified.

Publicly Identified SMART Participating Destinations

Anguilla

Anguilla was among the destinations publicly identified as participating in SMART 2026.

Its importance to SMART extends beyond geographical proximity. The island sits within a highly interconnected northeastern Caribbean tourism environment, where travellers frequently combine destinations during a single holiday.

Anguilla’s presence at SMART creates opportunities for tourism businesses to discuss multi-island itineraries with buyers already visiting St. Maarten.

For travellers, this can make the region more attractive because a St. Maarten holiday does not necessarily need to remain limited to one island.

The event’s B2B structure is particularly relevant to smaller Caribbean destinations. Tourism boards and local operators can meet international sellers without having to build separate commercial relationships in every overseas market.

The wider SMART programme also demonstrates the importance of regional cooperation. Buyers are exposed to multiple destinations in the same setting, which can encourage travel packages covering several islands.

Anguilla’s participation therefore fits naturally into SMART’s broader regional strategy.

The island also benefits from St. Maarten’s transport position. St. Maarten’s airport serves as an important northeastern Caribbean gateway, while the tourism sector uses regional air services and maritime links to connect neighbouring islands.

The official St. Maarten tourism organisation describes the destination as a hub for Caribbean travel and promotes island-hopping as part of the visitor experience.

For global travellers, the practical takeaway is simple. A future St. Maarten trip can be considered as part of a wider northeastern Caribbean itinerary rather than an isolated beach vacation.

British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands were also publicly named among SMART’s participating destinations.

Their inclusion highlights the event’s focus on linking different Caribbean tourism products with international travel buyers.

The British Virgin Islands occupy a distinctive position in Caribbean tourism because sailing, yachting, beaches and small-island experiences form important parts of the destination’s appeal.

Participation at SMART provides an opportunity for businesses from the British Virgin Islands to meet buyers who may already be selling St. Maarten and other nearby destinations.

That creates possibilities for multi-destination holidays.

For travellers, this matters because Caribbean holidays are increasingly flexible. A visitor can combine an international gateway with smaller islands that offer a quieter experience.

SMART’s regional model gives tourism businesses a place to discuss those combinations directly.

The presence of the British Virgin Islands also strengthens the event’s geographical spread beyond the immediate St. Maarten/St. Martin market.

The island’s participation should therefore be viewed as part of SMART’s wider effort to connect Caribbean destinations rather than as a standalone promotional appearance.

Travel advisers attending the event can compare accommodation, excursions, transport options and destination experiences across multiple Caribbean markets.

That information can later influence the packages offered to international travellers.

For visitors planning future Caribbean travel, the significance lies in the potential for better-connected itineraries.

St. Maarten’s own tourism organisation promotes island-hopping and identifies the destination’s airport, cruise port and marinas as important gateways for exploring the Caribbean.

The British Virgin Islands’ participation consequently strengthens the broader regional proposition being presented to tourism professionals.

Curaçao

Curaçao was another publicly identified destination participating in SMART 2026.

Its presence adds a Dutch Caribbean dimension to the event and reinforces SMART’s importance beyond the immediate northeastern Caribbean.

Curaçao and St. Maarten share links through the wider Dutch Caribbean travel network.

For international visitors, that creates an opportunity to think about Caribbean trips through regional connections rather than individual destinations.

Curaçao’s participation also demonstrates the value of tourism marketplaces for destinations that have their own distinct identity but compete for some of the same international travellers.

At SMART, tourism businesses can position different experiences for buyers.

One destination may appeal to visitors seeking beaches and nightlife, while another may emphasise culture, food, diving, architecture or longer stays.

That variety makes a regional tradeshow particularly useful.

The event also provides opportunities for airlines, hotels, attractions and destination marketing organisations to establish commercial relationships.

Those relationships can eventually affect what tourists can book through international travel companies.

St. Maarten’s 2025 arrival figures demonstrate why regional connectivity matters.

The island recorded 855,994 air passenger arrivals during 2025. North America accounted for 541,615, while the European Union contributed 221,179.

The size of those markets makes St. Maarten a logical meeting point for Caribbean destinations seeking international distribution.

Curaçao’s presence therefore adds another layer to the regional tourism network.

For travellers, the development is useful because stronger commercial relationships between Caribbean destinations can eventually support more varied multi-island itineraries.

Jamaica

Jamaica was publicly identified among the tourism destinations participating in SMART 2026.

Its participation gives the event a connection to one of the Caribbean’s most internationally recognised tourism markets.

Jamaica’s tourism offer is considerably broader than the traditional beach holiday.

The destination combines coastal resorts with food, music, cultural attractions, heritage sites, nature-based activities and inland travel.

That range gives international buyers several different products to evaluate at a single trade event.

SMART’s structure allows those products to be positioned alongside tourism offerings from smaller islands.

This can help travel sellers build more varied Caribbean programmes.

For St. Maarten, Jamaica’s participation also contributes to the event’s regional diversity.

The two destinations have different visitor propositions, which can make combined itineraries more interesting for long-haul travellers.

A visitor arriving in the Caribbean through one gateway could potentially combine several destinations depending on air schedules and available tour packages.

The importance of these commercial relationships becomes clearer when considering St. Maarten’s source-market distribution.

In 2025, the United States alone accounted for 462,038 air passenger arrivals, equal to 53.9% of total air arrivals.

France recorded 87,952, while the Netherlands registered 85,741.

Those figures show the international markets being targeted by Caribbean tourism businesses.

Jamaica’s participation consequently places its tourism product before buyers working with major North American and European markets.

For global travellers, SMART can therefore influence how Caribbean destinations are combined and sold internationally.

Montserrat

Montserrat provides one of the clearest examples of how SMART can generate direct business activity for a smaller Caribbean destination.

During SMART 2026, the Montserrat delegation conducted 35 B2B appointments.

Those meetings involved tour operators, travel agencies, travel platforms and tourism partners.

The delegation engaged businesses from St. Maarten/St. Martin, the United States, Netherlands, Spain and the Dominican Republic.

The Montserrat delegation also met with regional tourism organisations, including the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, Anguilla Tourist Board and Statia Tourism.

The discussions focused on collaboration, regional marketing and multi-destination travel initiatives.

This is particularly significant for travellers because it demonstrates the practical purpose of SMART.

The event is not simply about displaying brochures.

It creates a structured environment where smaller destinations can speak directly with companies that sell holidays.

Montserrat’s involvement also illustrates how regional tourism can be developed through partnerships.

For travellers, that can eventually mean greater visibility for destinations that are less frequently included in mass-market Caribbean packages.

The 35 appointments are a useful micro-level indicator within the larger SMART numbers.

More than 1,500 appointments were recorded across the 2026 event, meaning Montserrat’s meetings represented a small but tangible part of the broader commercial programme.

The island’s presence also supports the idea of multi-destination Caribbean travel.

Rather than treating every island as a separate holiday, travel sellers can build programmes around complementary experiences.

This approach can benefit visitors seeking quieter destinations alongside established tourism centres.

Montserrat’s SMART participation is therefore important not because of the size of its delegation alone, but because it demonstrates how the event can create direct commercial opportunities for smaller destinations.

Saba

Saba was publicly identified as another participating destination.

The island represents the small-island tourism segment that forms an important part of SMART’s regional identity.

Its inclusion alongside larger Caribbean destinations gives international buyers access to a broader range of travel experiences.

Saba can appeal to travellers looking for nature, hiking, diving and a slower-paced island environment.

Its participation also demonstrates the importance of the Dutch Caribbean network surrounding St. Maarten.

The event’s location is strategically useful because St. Maarten functions as a regional access point for nearby islands.

The official St. Maarten tourism organisation specifically promotes island-hopping and identifies the destination as a Caribbean hub.

This makes Saba relevant to travellers planning more than one island.

The tourism marketplace also allows buyers to compare different accommodation categories and experiences.

For a small destination, direct access to international travel sellers can be especially valuable.

Rather than depending solely on broad advertising campaigns, the destination can communicate its tourism offer to professionals who already have established customers.

Saba’s participation therefore supports a more diverse Caribbean travel marketplace.

For travellers, that can mean greater access to lesser-known island experiences.

The broader SMART programme also shows how the region can market destinations collectively.

St. Maarten brings together tourism businesses from different islands, allowing buyers to understand how destinations can complement one another.

Saba’s presence contributes to that strategy.

The result is a tourism environment where the Caribbean can be promoted as a network of experiences rather than a collection of disconnected islands.

St. Eustatius

St. Eustatius, commonly known as Statia, was another destination publicly identified as participating in SMART.

The island is part of the Dutch Caribbean and shares regional connections with St. Maarten.

Its participation adds another small-island perspective to the event.

For travellers, Statia can appeal particularly to visitors interested in history, heritage, nature and quieter Caribbean experiences.

The island’s participation is important within SMART because the tradeshow provides a platform for destinations that may have less international brand visibility than larger Caribbean tourism markets.

At the event, tourism representatives can meet buyers already interested in Caribbean products.

The 2026 event demonstrated how extensive that network had become.

Buyer companies increased to 57, while suppliers reached 62 and vendors reached 30.

These figures create a substantial marketplace for small destinations.

Statia can therefore use SMART to position itself alongside better-known islands while maintaining its own tourism identity.

Its participation also strengthens the Dutch Caribbean component of the event.

For visitors, that is relevant because St. Maarten can serve as a starting point for exploring neighbouring destinations.

The official tourism organisation actively promotes island-hopping from St. Maarten and describes the destination as a regional hub.

That network can be especially attractive to experienced Caribbean travellers who want to move beyond conventional resort destinations.

Statia’s involvement therefore adds depth to SMART’s travel proposition.

The event can introduce international buyers to experiences that may otherwise receive less attention in mainstream Caribbean holiday programmes.

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts and Nevis was also publicly listed among SMART 2026’s participating destinations.

The twin-island destination brings another established Eastern Caribbean tourism market into the event.

Its participation strengthens the geographic spread of the SMART marketplace.

For international buyers, the value comes from being able to compare multiple Eastern Caribbean destinations in one setting.

This can support future travel packages that combine different islands.

St. Kitts and Nevis also complements St. Maarten’s tourism proposition.

Travellers can seek different experiences from different destinations within the same regional holiday.

SMART’s business-meeting format gives tourism professionals an opportunity to discuss those combinations directly.

The event’s more than 1,500 scheduled appointments show the scale of those discussions.

St. Kitts and Nevis therefore benefits from a marketplace where hotels, attractions, airlines and destination representatives can interact with international buyers.

For travellers, the indirect benefit is greater choice.

A travel adviser who meets several Caribbean suppliers during one event can potentially create more sophisticated itineraries.

The destination’s participation also demonstrates that SMART is not limited to the two sides of St. Martin.

The event has developed into a regional tourism platform.

That regional dimension is becoming increasingly important as Caribbean travellers look for combinations of beach holidays, culture, food, sailing, nature and heritage.

St. Kitts and Nevis adds another destination to that mix.

Its participation therefore reinforces the concept of St. Maarten as a meeting point for Caribbean tourism rather than simply a destination promoting itself.

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago was publicly identified as another SMART 2026 participant.

Its presence gives the tradeshow a stronger southern Caribbean connection.

The destination is particularly relevant for travellers seeking cultural experiences beyond traditional resort tourism.

Trinidad is internationally associated with festivals, music, food and cultural events, while Tobago offers a contrasting island environment.

That diversity makes the destination useful within a multi-destination tourism marketplace.

SMART allows buyers to examine those different products alongside offerings from other Caribbean destinations.

For travellers, the commercial relationships developed at such events can influence the availability of packaged holidays and regional itineraries.

Trinidad and Tobago’s participation also strengthens the argument that SMART is increasingly regional rather than exclusively local.

The 2026 edition included tourism professionals from 27 countries and territories.

The event’s buyer and supplier numbers also expanded substantially compared with 2025.

That provides Trinidad and Tobago with access to a concentrated network of travel professionals.

The island nation’s participation can also encourage broader Caribbean travel conversations.

Instead of marketing each island separately, destinations can identify opportunities for shared promotions and complementary itineraries.

For long-haul travellers, that can make a Caribbean journey more varied.

A visitor could potentially combine a major tourism gateway with smaller islands and culturally distinct destinations.

SMART’s regional format is particularly suited to those discussions because the meetings are structured around tourism products and commercial relationships.

Trinidad and Tobago’s presence therefore strengthens the event’s southern Caribbean reach.

It also demonstrates the breadth of the destination portfolio that international buyers can encounter in St. Maarten.

Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands were also publicly named as SMART participants.

The destination adds another high-profile Caribbean beach and luxury tourism market to the event.

Its participation increases the diversity of tourism products available to international buyers.

For travel professionals, the ability to meet multiple Caribbean suppliers in one location can make it easier to compare accommodation, activities, destination services and visitor experiences.

This is one of the central advantages of SMART’s B2B format.

The 2026 event brought together 57 buyer companies and 62 supplier companies, creating a sizeable commercial network.

Turks and Caicos can use such a marketplace to position its own tourism offer while exploring partnerships with airlines, tour operators and other destinations.

For travellers, those relationships can eventually create broader Caribbean packages.

The destination’s participation is also important because international visitors increasingly have numerous Caribbean options.

Travel sellers need clear information about how destinations differ.

A tradeshow allows tourism representatives to communicate those distinctions directly.

SMART’s destination experiences also give visiting buyers an opportunity to experience St. Maarten itself.

That creates a two-way promotional model.

Participants conduct business while simultaneously seeing the host destination.

For travellers, the wider significance is that future travel products may increasingly connect several Caribbean markets.

Turks and Caicos’ participation therefore reinforces the event’s role as a regional marketplace.

The destination is not simply promoting itself in isolation.

It is becoming part of a broader network of Caribbean tourism businesses meeting international buyers in St. Maarten.

St. Maarten and St. Martin

The host destination is unique because SMART brings together both sides of one island.

The southern side is Dutch St. Maarten, while the northern side is French Saint-Martin.

The official destination organisation describes the island as binational and multicultural, with influences from more than 100 nations. It also promotes the destination for beaches, food, shopping, sailing, diving, culture and excursions.

That dual identity is central to SMART.

The event is organised through cooperation involving the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, Office de Tourisme, Club du Tourisme and St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association.

The island’s tourism performance also explains why it can function as an important regional meeting point.

In 2025, St. Maarten recorded 855,994 air passenger arrivals.

North America generated 541,615 arrivals, equivalent to about 63.3% of the total.

The United States alone generated 462,038 arrivals, representing 53.9%.

The European Union generated 221,179 arrivals, while the Caribbean contributed 43,986.

Cruise tourism added another 1,597,940 passenger arrivals during 2025.

Cruise calls increased from 513 in 2024 to 592 in 2025, adding 79 ship calls and representing a 15% increase.

For travellers, those numbers demonstrate the island’s importance as both an international destination and a regional gateway.

Five-Year St. Maarten Visitor Comparison

The following table combines the most useful official tourism indicators from 2021 through 2025.

A major caution is required.

St. Maarten’s government changed its methodology. Until 2023, the principal air tourism indicator was reported as stay-over visitors.

From the new digital immigration system, the government shifted to Air Passenger Arrivals, which includes passengers using St. Maarten as a hub and does not always distinguish transfers, residents and certain other categories.

The government therefore says that direct comparisons between the old and new series are not methodologically sound.

Five-Year Air / Stay-Over Visitor Data

The 2021 figure was 59% below 2023’s result, while 2022 added 123,956 stay-over visitors compared with 2021.

The 2023 result added another 22,245 stay-over visitors over 2022.

The government reported that 2023 was 24% above the 2019 pre-pandemic figure of 319,696, while still below the historical 2016 high of 528,153.

Cruise Visitor Comparison

The cruise figures provide a much more consistent five-year series.

Cruise passenger numbers increased from 232,519 in 2021 to 1,597,940 in 2025.

That represents an absolute increase of 1,365,421 passengers.

The 2025 total was almost 6.9 times the 2021 level.

Cruise calls also increased from 190 in 2021 to 592 in 2025.

That means the number of annual ship calls more than tripled during the period.

Detailed Five-Year Tourism Recovery Analysis

2021: The Recovery Starting Point

St. Maarten recorded 248,852 stay-over visitors in 2021.

Cruise activity was considerably weaker, with only 232,519 cruise passengers and 190 calls.

The government later described the period as part of the post-pandemic recovery process.

The cruise figures demonstrate how sharply international maritime tourism had been disrupted.

Compared with 2019’s 1,631,537 cruise passengers, the 2021 total was dramatically lower.

For the travel industry, 2021 was therefore a rebuilding year rather than a normal tourism year.

2022: A Major Reopening Recovery

Stay-over arrivals reached 372,808 in 2022, up from 248,852 in 2021.

That represented an increase of 123,956 visitors, or approximately 50%.

North America accounted for about 66% of stay-over arrivals, while Europe represented approximately 26%.

Cruise passenger numbers also jumped to 844,090.

The government recorded a 263% increase in cruise passengers from the 2021 low.

This was the first major step toward restoring St. Maarten’s traditional tourism scale.

2023: Continued Stay-Over Growth and Cruise Expansion

Stay-over arrivals reached 395,053 in 2023.

That was 22,245 more than 2022 and represented approximately 6% growth.

The number was also 59% above the 2021 level.

Cruise arrivals rose to 1,318,177, up 474,087 from 2022.

The government reported that cruise tourism increased by 56% year on year.

Cruise calls reached 491, compared with 417 in 2022.

2024: A Statistical Transition Year

2024 is particularly important because St. Maarten changed its immigration data system.

The government introduced an upgraded digital immigration system in November 2024.

The new system improved the classification and collection of arrival information.

However, the change means that old and new air-arrival figures cannot simply be placed into one uninterrupted statistical series.

For comparison purposes, the government used adjusted 2024 airport figures and removed 10% to account for residents.

The Q1 2024 adjusted figure was 231,852, compared with 256,923 in Q1 2025.

Cruise tourism was easier to compare.

St. Maarten recorded 1,374,362 cruise passengers in 2024, compared with 1,318,177 in 2023.

2025: A New Air-Arrival Baseline

The government reported 855,994 air passenger arrivals in 2025.

The quarterly distribution was:

North America remained the dominant source region.

The United States and Canada together produced 541,615 arrivals, representing about 63.3% of the annual total.

The United States alone generated 462,038 arrivals.

The European Union contributed 221,179.

France generated 87,952 and the Netherlands 85,741.

The Caribbean contributed 43,986, Central and South America produced 25,484, and the rest of the world contributed 15,730.

2025 Source-Market Breakdown

The figures show why St. Maarten is attractive as a meeting point for international tourism companies.

The island receives visitors from the two largest international tourism regions represented in its air-arrival data: North America and Europe.

Together, those markets accounted for almost 89% of 2025 air passenger arrivals.

Cruise Tourism Adds a Second Major Visitor Stream

Cruise tourism remains another major component of St. Maarten’s visitor economy.

In 2025, cruise passenger arrivals reached 1,597,940.

The quarterly distribution shows a strong concentration during the first and final quarters.

Q1 alone represented almost 40% of the year’s cruise traffic.

Q4 represented another 35.1%.

Together, those two quarters accounted for roughly three-quarters of annual cruise passenger arrivals.

For travellers, this seasonal pattern is useful.

Visitors seeking a quieter experience may want to compare travel dates against the busiest cruise periods.

The government reported that every quarter of 2025 exceeded the corresponding 2024 cruise figure.

Q1 rose 11%, Q2 increased 14%, Q3 climbed 23%, and Q4 grew 22%.

The full-year increase was 16%.

St. Maarten’s 2025 Tourism Numbers in One Table

*The combined figure is a simple addition of airport passenger movements and cruise passenger arrivals. It should not be interpreted as unique individual visitors because the two datasets measure different forms of tourism movement and may include repeat travellers.

What These Numbers Mean for Travellers Planning St. Maarten

The statistics reveal a destination with several different tourism channels.

Air travel remains heavily connected to North America and Europe.

Cruise tourism adds another substantial visitor stream.

Regional Caribbean traffic creates another layer.

That combination gives St. Maarten an unusually broad tourism network for an island destination.

The official destination organisation highlights beaches, dining, shopping, sailing, diving, cultural attractions and excursions as major visitor experiences. It also promotes the island’s binational identity as a central part of its appeal.

Travellers should therefore look beyond a traditional resort itinerary.

A stay can combine the Dutch side around Philipsburg and Simpson Bay with the French side around Marigot and Grand Case.

Visitors can also consider sailing, snorkelling, diving, hiking, culinary experiences and regional island-hopping.

SMART 2027 Could Influence the Next Wave of Caribbean Travel

The significance of SMART 2027 extends beyond the five-day event.

The 2026 edition demonstrated that the tradeshow can bring together dozens of buyers, suppliers and vendors while generating more than 1,500 scheduled business meetings.

The participating destinations also show the event’s regional reach.

From Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands to Jamaica, Curaçao, Montserrat, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos, the event connects different parts of the Caribbean tourism economy.

For global travellers, the most important outcome may be what happens after the meetings.

A new airline relationship can create easier access.

A hotel partnership can produce a new package.

A tour operator agreement can introduce a lesser-known island to international travellers.

A destination partnership can make island-hopping easier to sell.

These are the indirect benefits of a major tourism marketplace.

SMART 2027 Travel Planning Guide

Travellers considering St. Maarten around the June 2027 event should monitor several factors.

The Bigger Picture for Caribbean Travellers

SMART 2027 arrives at a time when St. Maarten has a substantial tourism network and a rapidly expanding regional business platform.

The event’s 2026 performance demonstrated strong participation.

More than 1,500 appointments created a large commercial environment.

Buyer companies increased to 57.

Supplier companies reached 62.

Vendor participation reached 30.

The exhibition footprint expanded by 40%.

Meanwhile, St. Maarten’s official tourism statistics show the continued recovery and expansion of air and cruise travel.

Stay-over tourism increased from 248,852 visitors in 2021 to 395,053 in 2023.

Cruise traffic rose from 232,519 passengers in 2021 to 1,597,940 in 2025.

Air passenger arrivals reached 855,994 under the new methodology in 2025.

The numbers show why St. Maarten remains an important meeting point for Caribbean tourism.

For travellers, SMART 2027 is therefore worth watching not because it is a conventional tourist attraction, but because the deals and partnerships formed there can influence the Caribbean holidays available in the years ahead.

With the event returning from June 14 to 18, 2027, St. Maarten is preparing to once again bring Caribbean destinations, tourism businesses and international travel buyers into the same marketplace.

For global visitors, that could translate into more choices, more regional combinations and new ways to experience the Caribbean beyond the traditional resort holiday.

Conclusion

Jamaica, Curaçao and more Caribbean destinations are strengthening connections as St. Maarten prepares for SMART 2027. The event will bring travel leaders, tourism businesses and international buyers together to explore new opportunities across the region. For global travellers, these partnerships could lead to fresh itineraries, stronger island-hopping options and new Caribbean experiences. As St. Maarten welcomes SMART 2027, the destination is also reinforcing its role as an important tourism hub. Jamaica and Curaçao add further regional depth to the gathering. Travel And Tour World will continue tracking the developments, partnerships and travel opportunities emerging from this major Caribbean tourism event.

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