Business
St. Maarten delegation at FCCA cruise conference in San Juan, 12–16 October
Tourism Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten and Port St. Maarten CEO Alexander Gumbs are at the FCCA Cruise Conference in San Juan, which runs 12 to 16 October. No outcomes have been announced yet.
By SXM Daily ·
Tourism Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten and Port St. Maarten Group CEO Alexander Gumbs are in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this week for the 32nd annual Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference and Trade Show. The event runs from 12 to 16 October at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.
Photo: Rennett Stowe / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Other Port St. Maarten officials are part of the delegation, according to The Peoples Tribune. No agreements or announcements from the conference had been reported as of 15 October.
What the conference is
The FCCA is a not-for-profit trade group whose member lines operate more than 90% of cruise capacity in Florida, Caribbean and Latin American waters, according to the organiser. The yearly conference brings cruise executives together with destinations, ports and tour operators for meetings, workshops and networking. The Peoples Tribune reports that more than 700 delegates and representatives of over 15 cruise lines are expected this year.
Topics on the agenda include cruise infrastructure, itineraries and the passenger experience.
St. Maarten hosted the same conference in October 2024.
What it means for residents
Nothing changes for now. Cruise calls matter to Philipsburg's shops, taxi drivers and tour operators, especially heading into the high season, but no new calls, schedules or deals have been announced.
What happens next
The conference ends on Friday 16 October. SXM Daily will report any agreements or announcements the Ministry of TEATT or Port St. Maarten make afterwards.
Sources
- https://registry.cubegroupevents.com/fcca-2026
- https://www.thepeoplestribunesxm.com/articles/st-maarten-delegation-heads-to-fcca-conference-to-strengthen-cruise-industry-partnerships