TOP-LEVEL MEETINGS FOR MARTINIQUE AT FCCA CONFERENCE

Mrs. Karine Mousseau Tourism Commissioner of Martinique, will lead a delegation including Le Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique along with key stakeholders of the industry at the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association Conference this October 24th 2017 in Merida, Mexico.

New York, NY – October 24th, 2017 —Mrs. Karine Mousseau and her team at the Martinique Tourism Authority along with Mr. Jean-Remy Villageois, President of Le Grand Port Maritime de la Martinique and representatives of Martinique’s cruise private sector, will meet with cruise executives and present the many positive developments and results of the cruise sector in Martinique.
Meetings scheduled with key decision makers such as Micky Arison, Chairman of Carnival Corporation, Arnold Donald, Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation, Rick Sasso Chairman of MSC Cruises USA and Adam Goldstein, President & COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, will confer the opportunity to strengthen the relationship established with the cruise companies and support the destination’s interests.
“Martinique is significantly growing its cruise activities, making the destination an unmissable stop in the Caribbean and strong ally to our cruise industry partners. This season, as a result of successful efforts undertaken by the public and private sectors of the Martinique cruise industry, the Island of Flowers as a home port boasts one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the Caribbean. All industry partners are constantly improving their facilities, quality of service, while delivering a warm welcome”, said Karine Mousseau.
Martinique as a cruise destination is steadily growing and the destination is thankful to the cruise ship companies for their trust in choosing Martinique as a call of choice. Fortunately the island has not suffered from the hurricanes damages sadly encountered by some of her Caribbean neighbors. From 214 calls, the Island is now expecting 369 port calls for 2017/2018 season.

Port Calls

The number of cruise passengers will also be on the rise with a forecast of 786,000 passengers. Thanks to the growing interest of cruise lines, the terminal of La Pointe Simon in Fort-de-France, is one of the few ports in the world located in the heart of a capital city. The terminal of la Pointe Simon will welcome over 150 port calls this season.
The end of 2017 will mark the opening of the first shops of the new shopping center of la Pointe Simon, Tour Lumina, which will also contribute to the site’s appeal.
Moorings in front of the towns of Anses d’Arlet, Le Marin and Trois-Ilets are very sought-after by boutique luxury ships.
About Martinique (martinique.org – martiniquepresskit.com)

The Caribbean Island with French Flair, The Isle of Flowers, The Rum Capital of the World, Birthplace of coffee in the New World, The Isle of the Famed Poet (Aimé Césaire) – Martinique ranks among the most alluring and enchanting destinations in the world. As an overseas region of France, Martinique boasts modern and reliable infrastructure – roads, water and power utilities, hospitals, and telecommunications services all on par with any other part of the European Union. At the same time, Martinique’s beautifully unspoiled beaches, volcanic peaks, rainforests, 80+ miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, streams, and other natural wonders are the equal of neighboring Dominica to the north and St. Lucia to the south, so visitors here truly get the best of both worlds. The currency is the Euro, the flag is “Le Tricolor,” and the official language is French, but Martinique’s character, cuisine, musical heritage, art, culture, common language, and identity are of a distinctly Afro-Caribbean inclination known as Creole. It is this special combination of modern world conveniences, pristine nature, and rich heritage that has earned for Martinique several notable distinctions in recent years, including being ranked in the Top 16 Places to go by Condé Nast Traveler, named as a “Must-Visit” destination by Caribbean Journal, “Best Caribbean Destination” by About.com, and “Top Caribbean Island for Delectable Dining” by Caribbean Travel + Life. The Bay of Fort-de-France, which fronts Martinique’s charming capital city, was also inducted into The Club of The Most Beautiful Bays in the World. Martinique’s storied history further stirs travel passions. Napoleon’s bride, Empress Josephine, was born and raised in Martinique, while the majestic Mt. Pelée volcano and St. Pierre, The Pompeii of the Caribbean, are found here.