When we started building Destinito, the ambition was never simply to create another travel platform. The bigger question was whether we could create a more connected visitor experience by starting with the traveler—and then working backwards.
On Sint Maarten and St. Martin, that immediately meant looking beyond the island itself. If the visitor wants to spend a day in Anguilla, take the ferry to St. Barth’s, fly to Saba or discover St. Eustatius, then those destinations are part of that visitor’s journey too. Their holiday does not stop where our administrative boundaries do.
That same thinking led us to another conclusion: if we put the visitor at the center, we also have to make room for the local entrepreneur.
A destination is not created only by its largest resorts, major attractions or businesses with professional marketing departments. Its character is equally shaped by the small restaurant, local guide, artist, shop owner, roadside food spot, family business or young entrepreneur with an idea. Ironically, these are often exactly the experiences travelers say they are looking for, yet they can also be the hardest to find.
A small business may offer something exceptional but have no proper website, limited social media or simply not have the time and resources to compete for digital visibility. We do not believe that should make them invisible.
That is why basic business listings on Destinito are free. It is not simply a pricing decision. It reflects a principle we believe in: visibility within a destination should not belong only to those who can afford to buy it.
Technology can help level that playing field, but technology alone will never tell the full story of a destination. The Caribbean needs local voices—people who understand the neighborhoods, food, personalities, traditions and places residents themselves value.
As Destinito grows, that becomes even more important. 16 Caribbean destinations are now represented on the platform, and we are seeing growing interest from businesses, tourism stakeholders and people elsewhere in the region who recognize the potential of the concept.
Destinito therefore cannot—and should not—be built from one island by people claiming to know every destination. We need local professionals, entrepreneurs and creators who know their territory intimately and can help determine which businesses deserve to be discovered, which stories should be told and what visitors genuinely need.
We can build the technology and connect the wider Caribbean. The knowledge, personality and authenticity must remain local.
What began as a technology idea is becoming something broader: a way to connect visitors more closely with the Caribbean while giving more of the people who create that experience a chance to be seen.
We may have started by building Destinito for the Caribbean. The more interesting chapter is building it with the Caribbean.
Michiel Parent
Connecting People, Places and Technologies
#Tourism #Entrepreneurship #TravelTech #CaribbeanTourism #SmallBusiness
https://iig.me/Insights.aspx
https://destinito.com