Tourism keeps building on Sint Maarten / Saint Martin. According to the latest figures from the Department of Statistics (STAT), reported by Faxinfo on August 11, 2026, the first quarter of 2026 shows a clear rise in both air arrivals and cruise passengers versus the same period in 2025. In short: the island is having a strong run.
Air traffic: +23% at Princess Juliana
From January to March 2026, 314,765 passengers arrived through Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), 57,842 more than in Q1 2025, a 23% increase.
The United States and Canada remain by far the main source market, with 213,595 travelers, nearly 68% of all arrivals. The United States alone accounts for 171,340 passengers, more than half of the period's air traffic.
The European Union is the second market, with 76,790 arrivals (24.4% of the total). France leads among European countries (31,091), ahead of the Netherlands (18,502). Caribbean arrivals reach 9,946 travelers, while Central and South America also grow, to 8,588 passengers, about 1,700 more than a year earlier.
An important nuance in the data
These figures count everyone entering through the airport, including connecting passengers bound for neighboring islands, including the French side of Saint Martin. The new digital immigration system cannot yet fully separate every passenger category. So the +23% reflects real traffic growth, but blends stay-over and transit flows.
Cruise: +18% passengers, 40 more ship calls
The rebound is just as clear on the cruise side. In the first quarter, 748,603 cruise passengers called at Sint Maarten, up from 635,968 a year earlier, an 18% rise.
Growth held through the quarter (+19% in January, +16% in February, +18% in March), even as the quieter season approaches. February also stood out with roughly 30% more ship calls than in February 2025.
In total, 316 cruise ships docked between January and March, 40 more calls than in Q1 2025, another sign the port remains attractive to cruise lines.
What it means for the island
For businesses and visitors alike, the numbers point to a still very strong high season, with U.S. air traffic dominant and Europe holding a solid share. They also underline Princess Juliana's hub role for regional connections.
Worth remembering: read the air +23% with the transit versus stay-over nuance in mind, and watch the next STAT releases to see whether the momentum continues beyond the first quarter.