St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, Princess Juliana International Airport and Office de Tourisme de Saint-Martin join forces to showcase the island in a major Latin American tourism activation.
Philipsburg, St. Maarten – The secret is finally out! St. Maarten has officially been revealed as the mystery Caribbean destination for the third edition of Destino Oculto, an innovative travel experience organized by Colombian low-cost airline Wingo.
Approximately 400 visitors from Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia, arrived at Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on Thursday, October 22, marking the beginning of an exciting four-day destination experience that will run through October 25, 2026.
The initiative is made possible through a strategic collaboration between the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB), Office de Tourisme de Saint-Martin (ODT), and the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE), working alongside Wingo Airlines and its organizing partner Okana Group to introduce the island to a new audience of South American travelers.
A Hidden Destination, An Unforgettable Caribbean Experience
Destino Oculto, which translates to Hidden Destination, is a unique travel concept in which travelers purchase a vacation package without knowing their final destination until shortly before arrival.
The experience combines the excitement of surprise travel with carefully curated destination activities, allowing participants to discover new places, cultures, and experiences.
For its third edition, Wingo selected St. Maarten/Saint-Martin, an island celebrated for its extraordinary blend of Dutch and French Caribbean cultures, world-renowned beaches, vibrant culinary scene, shopping, adventure activities, and warm hospitality.
The visitors, including travelers, content creators, and media representatives, will experience the best of both sides of the island during their stay.
Upon arrival at Princess Juliana International Airport, guests were welcomed with a festive Caribbean reception featuring traditional steel pan entertainment, destination greetings, and a warm welcome from the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Mrs. Grisha Heyliger-Marten.
Strengthening Tourism Ties Between Colombia and St. Maarten
The arrival of Destino Oculto 3 represents an important milestone in St. Maarten’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its presence in the Latin American tourism market.
Colombia has consistently ranked among St. Maarten’s leading South American source markets, demonstrating the potential for further growth in visitor arrivals, travel trade partnerships, and regional connectivity.
By introducing hundreds of Colombian travelers directly to the destination, the initiative provides an opportunity to increase awareness of St. Maarten, stimulate future travel demand, and generate valuable exposure through traditional and digital media.
The collaboration also reflects a shared commitment among tourism and aviation stakeholders to expand St. Maarten’s reach into emerging visitor markets while positioning Princess Juliana International Airport as a gateway to the northeastern Caribbean.
Beyond the immediate destination exposure generated by Destino Oculto 3, the initiative also reflects ongoing efforts to explore stronger air connectivity between St. Maarten and the Colombian market.
“Today, we warmly welcome our Colombian visitors to St. Maarten through Wingo’s Destino Oculto experience. Their arrival represents an exciting opportunity to showcase our island to Colombia as we work to expand our reach into the wider Latin American market.
“As Government, we are in ongoing negotiations with Wingo to explore future connectivity. Over the next four days, we have an opportunity to demonstrate what makes St. Maarten special from our beaches and cuisine to our culture and hospitality and inspire these visitors to return and encourage others to discover our island.
“Our goal is to turn this exposure into lasting tourism growth, creating more opportunities for our hotels, restaurants, tour operators and local entrepreneurs. We thank Wingo and all participating partners for helping us introduce St. Maarten to a wider Colombian audience,” stated Minister Heyliger-Marten.
Throughout their stay, participants will enjoy a carefully coordinated programme showcasing the diversity of experiences available on both sides of the island. Beyond the official itinerary, participants will also have opportunities to discover additional local attractions, experiences, and businesses through a digital activity guide featuring special promotional offers.
These experiences highlight the destination’s tourism offerings, including adventure tourism, marine activities, cultural attractions, gastronomy, recreation, and shopping.
A Collaborative Approach to Destination Promotion
The successful realization of Destino Oculto 3 demonstrates the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors in developing innovative tourism marketing initiatives.
Through the combined efforts of the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, Princess Juliana International Airport, and the Office de Tourisme de Saint-Martin, the destination continues to strengthen its international positioning while supporting local tourism businesses and creating opportunities for meaningful visitor engagement.
The initiative is expected to generate valuable destination exposure through participant experiences, social media content, media coverage, and word-of-mouth promotion, further strengthening St. Maarten’s appeal among Latin American travelers.
As the visitors begin their four-day journey, one message remains at the heart of the experience: One Island. Two Nations. Endless Experiences.
