When the Community of Municipalities was set up in 1994, an advisory “economic and social committee” was also established, made up of representa- tive bodies but also of local figures and residents. The committee was not partic- ularly active. When the LA21 got underway, the Community of Municipalities worked through smaller working parties made up of the island’s main official bodies. Gradually, however, NGOs, companies and residents began to express interest in the LA21 and gradually the number of people involved increased greatly. A new development board inspired by Forum 21 is currently being set up.
Conclusions
Marie-Galante is gradually opening up towards soft tourism. Opting for sustainability is not just a matter of putting right the negative effects of tourist development. It lies at the very heart of the island’s strategy for social, cultural and economic devel- opment, and its position on the Caribbean tourist market: an authentic destination, something different, breaking the mold of mass tourism.
It is important to note that the strategy is shaped at island level, in other words that it covers the destination as a whole.
Sources
“Etude de faisabilité pour un Plan de développement durable de l’Ile de Marie-Galante”, European Parliament Information Campaign.
Agenda 21 Local de Marie-Galante, Outils et démarches pour la réalisation d’Agenda locaux 21, Call for projects by the Ministry of the Environment, 1999.