New Martinique Tourism Authority Leaders Not Concerned About Cuba

Unlike most Caribbean islands, Martinique is not worried about the threat that Cuba poses to the island’s tourism product. The reason is simple.

Cuba is selling culture. And while some Caribbean islands may feel a bit inadequate in that department, culture is Martinique’s number one asset.

Ever since the U.S. and Cuba began relaxing travel restrictions between the two countries, many people have wondered why most Caribbean islands felt threatened by the once-forbidden island.

After all, Cuba is behind the rest of the Caribbean as far as infrastructure and hotel product that Americans have come to expect when they travel. However, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) members we spoke to earlier this summer told Travel Agent that it is the vast amount of cultural offerings that Cuba has that is making the other islands feel pressure to showcase their own cultures.

Martinique, however, is not one of those islands.

“Martinique didn’t wait until the opening of the border of Cuba to start promoting the authenticity of the island,” Mousseau told Travel Agent. “That was our main asset before and we are still promoting it now. Every island has beach and sand and water, but we have authenticity and we are proud of that and want to continue to celebrate that and share that with foreign visitors.”

Source: Travel Agent