Tourism-related issues in Marie-Galante’s LA21
In terms of economic activity, Marie-Galante’s LA21 encourages a balance between sectors, and the integration of tourism in the island’s traditional activi- ties of agriculture and crafts. Agriculture is the key sector of the economy, employing much of the population, and it is agriculture that gives the island and its landscape their character, and forms a large part of its tourist interest.
In terms of tourism the strategy aims to:
• Avoid the risks inherent in tourist development and retain Marie-Galante’s strong identity compared with the other Caribbean destinations;
• Encourage a type of tourism that contributes to the aims of the island’s
social and economic development, helps to bring down unemployment, and boosts residents’ income;
• Encourage integrated tourism that complements agricultural activity (gue- strooms, meals, visitor reception, etc.) and allows farms to be maintained (providing additional income for farmers).
Integrating sustainable tourism in local management tools
Marie-Galante’s tourist strategy is highly integrated with the island’s overall sus- tainable development project. The Community of Municipalities intends to
Tourism related actions to be taken in the LA21 process
LA21 actions help promote:
• Tourism as a complement to other activities (particularly agriculture), and endeavours to avoid tourist mono-activity.
• Locally-controlled tourism.
• Better quality provision (accommodation, catering and services).
• Soft tourism based on the island’s natural and cultural assets (rare natural resources, quality food products with an identity, historic and rural heritage), which respects them and encourages their enhancement.
• Green tourism that involves the island’s interior, rather than beach tourism alone.
The LA21 defines 90 actions grouped under 18 headings. One of these headings is specifically identi- fied as Tourism, but since Marie-Galante has opted for highly integrated tourism, many of the LA21’s other actions on agriculture or handicrafts also involve tourism.
Overall strategy:
• to prepare a specific sustainable tourism plan;
• to set up a Tourist Office and bookings centre;
• to create a “Marie-Galante: So true!” collective trademark. Created in 1998, this trademark is granted to any type of provider who meets strict quality specifications;
• to enhance and promote the destination’s image and its own specific characteristics within the
Caribbean context, focusing on quality and sustainability;
• to develop networking with the neighbouring islands (Guadeloupe, Dominique, and other
Caribbean islands).
Improving the quality of accommodation and services:
• to audit and qualitatively and environmentally up-grade hotels, lodgings and guesthouses, with ratings;
• to rehabilitate the entire accommodation pool
• to create a high-level hotel industry with limited carrying capacity;
• to create a small-scale, flexibly structured and reversible yachting harbour with no heavy infrastructure, combining organised mooring with the provision of the main services for yachts;