Sint Maarten welcomed approximately 1.56 million visitor arrivals during the first half of 2026—an increase of 16-and-a-half per cent over the same period last year.
Statistics Department figures show 566,722 air arrivals, representing growth of 21.4 per cent.
Every month recorded more air passengers than the corresponding month in 2025. March was the busiest, with more than 112,000 arrivals.
Cruise traffic remained the largest source by volume, bringing almost 994,000 passengers ashore—an increase of 13.9 per cent.
January was the busiest cruise month, with more than 292,000 passengers.
However, cruise growth slowed during the second quarter to 3.7 per cent, partly because May recorded fewer passengers than last year.
STAT says tourism arrivals remain a major indicator of economic performance because they support employment, businesses and government revenue.
Second-quarter figures remain provisional and may be revised.