Wingo brought 350 Colombians from Bogotá and Medellín to St. Maarten. This is the surprising result of the Wingo’s Destino Oculto 3 travel experience.
SIMPSON BAY--Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) welcomed about 350 travellers from Colombia on Thursday, October 22, as the island was revealed as the surprise destination for Wingo’s Destino Oculto 3 travel experience.
The four-day, three-night trip, running from October 22 to 25, brings travellers from Bogotá and Medellín to St. Maarten under the theme “One Destination, Two Paradises”, highlighting the island’s Dutch and French sides.
The arrival followed months of preparation and collaboration between PJIA, the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau and Office du Tourisme Saint Martin, with the partners seeking to increase the destination’s visibility in the South American market.
“Seeing the aircraft arrive and revealing that St. Maarten is the hidden destination is an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved,” said Suzy Kartokromo, Aeronautical Business Manager at PJIAE.
Kartokromo said the airport had worked closely with tourism partners on both sides of the island for several months to prepare for the arrival. “It has been an exciting journey, particularly knowing that we were preparing to welcome hundreds of travellers who had no idea where they were going,” she said.
Wingo’s Destino Oculto concept allows passengers to book an international getaway without knowing their destination in advance. The initiative is now in its third edition.
PJIA Chief Executive Officer Michael Cleaver said the initiative supports the airport’s efforts to expand its presence in the South American market and introduce new visitors to the island. “Initiatives like this provide an excellent opportunity to introduce new travellers to everything our destination has to offer,” Cleaver said.
He described St. Maarten as offering “twice the Caribbean experience”, bringing together the culture, charm and hospitality of both sides of the island. Cleaver said PJIA hoped the experience would encourage visitors to return and explore more of the destination.
The airport said the initiative demonstrates the value of cooperation between aviation and tourism partners in promoting the island to new audiences. PJIA added that it remains committed to supporting opportunities to strengthen regional and international connections and promote St. Maarten as a Caribbean destination.
