New MTA President announces roadmap for Martinique

Martinique Tourism Authority logo
Bénédicte di GERONIMO
Press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BÉNÉDICTE DI GERONIMO AT THE HELM OF THE MARTINIQUE TOURISM AUTHORITY:

THE NEW PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES HER ROADMAP FOR MARTINIQUE

New York (February 25, 2022)Bénédicte di GERONIMO, Executive Councillor of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique, takes the helm of the Martinique Tourism Authority (MTA)*. With a managerial experience in the economic sector, the new 43 year-old Tourism Commissioner, a bank executive and graduate of the Sorbonne, presents her vision of tourism development in Martinique and the components of her action plan in a video addressed to the media and industry professionals.

Putting the tourism sector back on track: heading for "Martiniquality"

Like all destinations, Martinique is going through an unprecedented challenge, facing restrictions to mitigate the pandemic, which weakens all economic sectors, tourism included. The arrival of Bénédicte di GERONIMO is an opportunity to set a course to a way out of the crisis. Attentive indeed to the sanitary news, the new Tourism Commissioner of the MTA declares:

"Tourism is a solid lever of our economic development because it is transversal. We have to be attentive and inventive to bounce back. Martinique has tremendous assets that I intend to energetically promote with all professionals in the tourism sector. Martinique is a strong destination, a visitor’s destination of excellence. I intend to melding more thoroughly our identity, our culture, our heritage, our landscapes, our gastronomy, our AOC rums or our artists. I aspire to go towards a "Martiniquality", a Martinique synonymous with quality.”

In this sense, the MTA will pilot structuring projects which aim at increasing the number of guests in Martinique: for example, existing events will be supported and leveraged to make them attractive showcases for the Isle of Flowers.

The challenge is also to highlight sustainable tourism: to this end, the work of the Martinique Nature Park will be promoted in order to support the candidacy of Mount Pelée and the Pitons du Carbet to the UNESCO World Heritage List. This step follows the successful induction of Martinique’s traditional Yole sailboats in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural World Heritage list and the entire island as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Setting sail for a safe recovery

The final goal will be to re-launch the destination to prospects and repeat visitors to Martinique. A program to restructure the tourism offer will be implemented with a promotional plan on priority markets: campaigns, press events and familiarization trips will gradually resume on the US market.

"Together we will step up to the challenge of a strong resurgence. It is through the efforts of each and every one of us that we will be able to reassure our visitors and to seek a better tomorrow." reminds Bénédicte di GERONIMO. "Martinique is resilient and we can count on the exceptional support of our long-time US industry partners, which are allowing us to reconnect with our American friends," she said.

To this end, nonstop flights from Miami to Martinique’s capital city, Fort-de-France, are available year-round with American Airlines. This service offers easy connecting flights from cities throughout the US.

*Martinique Tourism Authority (MTA).

ABOUT MARTINIQUEus.martinique.org)

The French Caribbean Island of Martinique is also known as the Isle of Flowers, The Rum Capital of the World, the 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 unparalleled in the Caribbean, so visitors here truly get the best of both worlds. The currency is the Euro, the flag and the official language are 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. Hot off the press: In September 2021, Martinique’s exceptional biodiversity was recognized by UNESCO, which added the entire island to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The destination was named the world's top emerging destination by TripAdvisor for 2021. In late 2020, Martinique’s traditional Yole Boat was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List and the Isle of Flowers also earned Silver honors in Travel Weekly’s 2020 Magellan Awards as an Art & Culture Caribbean Destination. In December 2019 and for the second year in a row, Martinique was named “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean” by the Caribbean Journal. The island was also recognized in January 2019 by OprahMag.com and in first place in their list of “The 19 Best Winter Getaways.” Martinique was also featured in the Caribbean Journal’s Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2019. Martinique has also been featured in Travel + Leisure and the New York Time’s “52 Places to go in 2018.” Click here and here to be updated about Covid 19.

PRESS CONTACTS:

MARTINIQUE TOURISM AUTORITY
Géraldine Rome
Communications Coordinator
geraldine.rome@atout-france.fr

ATOUT FRANCE Marion Fourestier
Director of Communications
marion.fourestier@atout-france.fr

Contact

Marion Fourestier - Director of Communications
Atout France USA, The France Tourism Development Agency