PHILIPSBURG:--- This June 27th, country Sint Maarten was highlighted in a travel special in Komsomolskaja Pravda, the largest Russian Media house. The article is a follow-up of an Easter visit by its New York Travel Correspondent Alexey Osipov. Over the Easter days, Mr. Osipov had already hosted two live radio shows from Sint Maarten on KP’s national radio channels. This week’s article will be part of a series to be continued in Russian language papers in the United States, Israel, and Kazakhstan.
Mr. Osipov was very positive about his experiences. “I now know where paradise is, as apparently some other fellow countrymen already did”, correspondent Alexey Osipov opened in his article about Sint Maarten - referring to the fact that by means of Russian brochures, some local Real Estate agencies already anticipate on the opportunities of the rapidly growing Russian economy.
Next, to the attractive weather, he was struck with Sint Maarten’s landscape. “Water and sand are that clean so that the authors of selfies will be suspected of editing their photos!” He recommended Russian travelers to travel by water to not to miss out any beaches. “Some of the best in the world” according to the well-traveled Osipov. His Easter visit allowed for a much enjoyed Carnival Jump-Up experience too.
Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper is the most well-read print medium of Russia and its website the most visited news website. The Russian Media House came to Sint Maarten in the wake of the recent SHTA’s “Snowflakes campaign” created earlier this year by local creatives Loic Bryan, Ronny Busby, Arun Jagtiani and Eduardo DeHaay. Bryan especially created an animated “Sint Maarten – The Calm in Your Storm” snowstorm clip for online use. As a Snowstorm battered the United States this winter, various Sint Maarten hotels and companies spread the campaign by highlighting Sint Maarten’s tropical look and feel as a contrast. One month after, Facebook registered over 45.000 hits for the movie. The movie can be found on the Facebook page of St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association.
Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP) was amongst the interested news agencies taking note and took up contact with the Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association. Both the association’s membership, as well as the team, have tried to show its New York’s correspondent around beautiful spots of Sint Maarten.
As Sint Maarten is little known in Russia, SHTA members gratefully welcomed the media house’s interest and organized various activities. Oyster Bay Beach Resort’s recent acquisition Coral Beach Club offered one of its luxury villas with luxury pool for his lodging. Boardwalk based Waterboys organized a jet ski tour by teacher Lemuel, and Aquamania offered a sunset dinner cruise as a seaborne farewell from the island.
Russian media house KP’s reach is not confined to Russia only, but having various special editions in the United States and European and Asian countries that have large Russian communities. Mr. Osipov’s Sint Maarten experience will be shared amongst these outlets too. Having been the former Israel / Middle East correspondent for KP, Osipov writes for Israeli media to in Hebrew. For this correspondent position, he paid a special visit to the Chabad synagogue at Simpson Bay, meeting Rabbi Moise Chanowitz, in order to write an article about the Jewish Community on Sint Maarten.
Besides reporting to Russia and Israel about country Sint Maarten in writing, Osipov holds two radio shows a week on KP’s national news radio channel. His traditional Tuesday show was broadcasted from his lodging at Oyster Bay Beach Resort, while SHTA offices functioned as a radio studio on Wednesday. He gave suggestions to Russian-speaking people all over the world how to come to Sint Maarten, as well as practical tips on how to get around. As Russia is not part of the European Union, visa policies for Russians differ per side of the island – as well as for visiting nearby Anguilla.
Next, to being a travel writer, radio host and correspondent for KP, Mr. Osipov holds a Ph.D. in journalism and teaches about his experiences at various universities in both the United States and Europe. As such, he tries to get a varied and honest experience, with a special eye for culinary offerings. Mr. Osipov enjoyed dining in both Oyster Pond as well as Simpson Bay, finalizing his culinary route in the Carnival Village.
The Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association is dedicated to bringing quality to all aspects of life on St. Maarten by promoting sustainable economic development for its members in cooperation with the social partners and the creation of a fair marketplace. For more information, please contact our office at 542-0108 or visit our website at www.shta.com.
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