Tourism and environment in Guadeloupe and Martinique

Abstract

Guadeloupe and Martinique are two French overseas departments, situated in the Lesser Antilles (eastern Caribbean). Traditionally known for sugar and rum production, they have, since the 1960s, progressively diversified their economies towards tourism. In 1993, Guadeloupe and Martinique received about 6 per cent of all Caribbean tourism, of which 3.3 per cent went to Guadeloupe and 2.7 per cent to Martinique. The islands have a number of attractions for tourists, including the beauty of their environment, characterized by the great variety of natural habitats, and the cultural patrimony associated with the richness of the creole culture and technical industrial heritage of these islands (Figure 4.1). Today the Guadeloupean archipelago (including notably Grande Terre, Saint Martin and Saint Barthelemy) and Martinique constitute a region where the tourist trade is very dynamic even if it remains fragile. One of the drawbacks of tourism is that it has negative environmental impacts. Very often not enough importance is given to this problem, even though the environment is an integral part of the islands' tourism potential. The degradation of the environment still persisted in recent years, in spite of attempts by the authorities and ecological associations to influence public opinion in favour of environmental protection.