Guadeloupe asserts its ambition for controlled, sustainable growth
On the occasion of the Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 in Miami, Guadeloupe reaffirmed its strategic position in the Caribbean cruise industry.
Through the eyes of the Grand Port Maritime and the Comité du Tourisme the archipelago is clearly committed to combining port excellence, an enhanced tourism experience and sustainable development to enhance its international reputation.
The Grand Port Maritime : supporting the cruise industry
For Marc Gautier, Director of Prospective and Development at the Grand Port Maritime de la Guadeloupe, cruising is a major source of economic growth for the archipelago.
“Cruises are a strategic lever for Guadeloupe”, he asserts.
With its modern, high-performance infrastructures, the port can accommodate several cruise ships simultaneously, offering companies optimal conditions for their calls.
The number of calls to the destination is constantly increasing, a sign of its growing appeal.
A key factor in this dynamic is the strong local synergy.
“The collective work between the port, the Tourist Board, the service providers and the authorities guarantees a quality experience for companies and passengers alike,” emphasizes Marc Gautier.
While no major obstacles have been identified to date, the port remains vigilant: anticipating market developments is essential to maintain competitiveness and quality of service.
🎯 Marc Gautier’s ambition: to continue Guadeloupe’s rise in the cruise industry, while maintaining the excellence of its infrastructure and hospitality.
Distribute, enhance, build loyalty : the Comité du Tourisme's strategy
For Laurence Corenthin, deputy director of the Comité du Tourisme des Îles de Guadeloupe, the post-Covid recovery of the cruise business is a real opportunity – provided it is supported intelligently.
” We have experienced a rapid recovery. The challenge now is to better distribute flows and enhance the passenger experience. “she explains.
The Comité du Tourisme focuses on :
Enhancing the downtown area of Pointe-à-Pitre, to encourage cruise passengers to discover the destination as soon as they arrive,
The development of an off-season offering, to spread visitor numbers over the year,
Enhanced excursions and tourist experiences to meet the expectations of international customers in search of authenticity.
Cruises now play a major role in the local tourism economy. It has a direct, structuring impact on the archipelago’s economy, boosting trade, transport and cultural activities.
🎯 Laurence Corenthin’s vision: to position Guadeloupe sustainably as a cruise destination that is authentic, lively and respectful of its territory.
A destination on the move, looking to the future
At Seatrade 2025, Guadeloupe clearly demonstrated its ability to support tourism growth without compromising its identity.
Through the excellence of its port infrastructures, the richness of its tourism offering and the collective commitment of its players, the archipelago confirms its ambition: to make cruising a sustainable lever at the service of the territory and its inhabitants.
In Guadeloupe, a cruise is more than just a stopover: it’s an invitation to discover an authentic island on the move, proud of its roots and resolutely looking to the future.
French Guiana asserts its ambition to become an exceptional stopover between the Amazon and the Caribbean at Seatrade 2025
Present at Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 in Miami, French Guiana showcased its unique positioning in the world of cruising.
With presentations by Jean-Luk Le West and Thierry Eliboxthe region asserted its ambition to offer an authentic cruising experience, combining wild nature, space heritage and a tailor-made welcome, while building a sustainable, structured industry.
Developing an exceptional cruise - Jean-Luk Le West's vision
For Jean-Luk Le West, Vice-President of the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane in charge of economic development and President of the Tourism Committee, the Seatrade was a major opportunity to position French Guiana as a new cruise operator in the region.
Unlike other destinations, French Guiana does not have a strong seasonal tourism pattern, but cruises do follow a marked rhythm, with peaks in visitor numbers.
The territory’s uniqueness is based on :
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The Guiana Space Center, a real differentiating asset,
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Luxuriant nature, between rivers and Amazon forests,
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A rich multicultural heritage.
However, to fully accommodate its cruising potential, appropriate infrastructure is still needed.
Jean-Luk Le West stresses the importance of a future deepwater port, capable of accommodating different types of ships.
🎯 Its ambition is to make French Guiana an exceptional destination, between land and sea, by developing an authentic, controlled offering.
Building a sustainable cruise industry - Thierry Elibox's commitment
Thierry Elibox, President of the Club Croisière Guyanereminds us that Guiana is still an emerging market in the world of cruising.
Despite the challenges, the momentum is there:
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Recently welcomed companies such as Exploris and Club Med,
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Increase in the number of scheduled stopovers,
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Strengthening synergies between local players (cabs, agencies, tour guides).
The priority today is to structure a genuine cruise industry:
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Develop services tailored to cruise passengers,
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Better training for professionals, particularly in English,
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Promote authentic excursions, with experiences based on nature, history and space.
“We need to create a solid value chain around cruising, so that the economic impact is real and shared locally,” explains Thierry Elibox.
🎯 His wish: more international air links and a deeper port to support the sector’s growth.
Guiana, a new horizon for cruising in the region
At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025, French Guiana demonstrated that it would not be content to be just another stopover.
With its unique environment, its space heritage and its commitment to sustainable tourism, it has established itself as a destination in a class of its own,
offering cruise passengers a singular, authentic and resolutely forward-looking experience.
Saint Lucia asserts its commitment to offering a unique experience rooted in its identity
At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 in Miami, Saint Lucia reminded us of what makes it unique in the Caribbean world: an exceptional natural heritage, a dynamic culture and a tourism experience that can’t be found anywhere else.
In the words of Louis Lewis, CEO of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the Caribbean island confirms its determination to combine authenticity, dynamic tourism and the preservation of its deep-rooted identity.
A destination of spectacular nature and living heritage
For Louis Lewis, Saint Lucia offers more than just heavenly beaches.
The island offers a unique experience, where nature and culture meet at every step.
The only place in the world where you can drive directly into an active volcano,
Remarkable natural sites: waterfalls, hot springs, lush forests, black and golden sand beaches,
Monts Pitons, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
“We have an exceptional natural product, but it’s also the human richness and cultural mix of Saint Lucia that make the experience unforgettable,” emphasizes Louis Lewis.
The local culture, a blend of British, French, African and Caribbean, is expressed through :
Creole festivals,
Traditional festivals,
Local gastronomy and music,
Community events to promote the island’s authenticity.
🎯 Saint Lucia’s challenge: to make every stopover an immersion in a unique, deeply-rooted art of living.
Diversifying the offer and smoothing out the tourist season
While cruising remains a strong pillar of the tourism economy,
Sainte-Lucie is not content with a seasonal activity concentrated on winter.
Thanks to the Community Tourism Agency, new products have been created for :
Promoting authentic local experiences,
Develop new cultural and natural excursions,
Attract visitors in both high and low seasons.
A few emblematic examples:
The Sea Moss Experience (based on traditional seaweed),
Creole festivals and carnivals,
Flower Festival,
Tours of unspoilt villages and natural sites.
This strategy aims to spread visitor flows throughout the year, protect emblematic sites from over-visitation and strengthen the local economic impact.
🎯 Louis Lewis’ vision: to build harmonious tourism growth, driven by authenticity, living culture and respect for natural resources.
Saint Lucia, emotion at the heart of the cruising experience
At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025, Saint Lucia has stated loud and clear that its tourism development will be based on authenticity, diversity and preservation.
With its accessible volcanoes, Creole traditions and warm welcome, the island offers cruisers much more than just a stopover: an immersion in a land where nature, culture and history weave unique and lasting memories.
Labora Caribbean Art Expedition is an artistic, maritime and heritage initiative that has taken root in Guadeloupe and is now spreading throughout the Caribbean. Supported by artists, sailors, researchers and institutions, this expedition aboard a traditional sailboat aims to link islands, gather knowledge, promote dialogue between generations and enhance the value of popular cultures that are often marginalized. More than just an artistic program, it is a living process of documentation, transmission and exchange between island communities, with the sea as a link.
A mobile artistic platform born in Guadeloupe around the sailboat Labora
The project takes shape around the S/V Labora, a Danish wooden hajkutter built in 1939, now restored and transformed into a living museum and mobile creative platform. The idea was born in Guadeloupe, particularly during his stopover at the ACTe Memorial during the Rhum Race, where musicians from Grenada came aboard and hundreds of Guadeloupean schoolchildren discovered life on board. This experience gave rise to a collective desire to make the Labora a vehicle for living memory on a Caribbean scale.
Three fundamental axes: traditional arts, navigation and transmission
Labora Caribbean Art Expedition is based on three inseparable pillars:
- The traditional Caribbean arts (music, dance, visual arts, oral narratives, craft skills).
- The sailing as a means of transport, but also as a historical link between the islands.
- The intergenerational transmission through workshops, residencies, documentaries and training courses.
At each port of call, the sailboat becomes both itinerant stage, a place of artistic residence and living archive space.
Responding to island isolation with art and the sea
The project is based on a simple but profound observation: in the Caribbean, many island communities remain isolated isolated by a lack of transport infrastructure which hinders cultural exchanges. The sailboat Labora overcomes these obstacles by creating a creation, documentation and sharing network.. It becomes a tool for dialogue, breaks down prejudice, connects artistsand opens up spaces for collaboration between often distant communities.
Educational, social and scientific objectives
The ambition of Labora Caribbean Art Expedition is to preserve endangered knowledge but also to give them a place in today’s society. The project aims to :
- Document vanishing traditions through films, recordings films, recordings, photographs, logbooks.
- Creating digital archives returned to communities and schools.
- Organize transmission workshops in schools, ports, neighborhoods and villages.
- Set up an international internship program (in conjunction with anthropology, musicology, ethnology and audiovisual universities).
- Encourage the emergence of educational initiatives integrating Caribbean cultures into curricula.
A collective project: artists, institutions, researchers, sailors
Three main entities coordinate the project:
- Road Book’ Arts (Guadeloupe), an association specializing in artistic production and cultural residencies.
- Le Temps du Vent, a French collective based in Marie-Galante and owner of the Samsara sailboat, dedicated to promoting traditional sailing.
- The Liberty International Sailing Club (LISC), a transnational structure that pilots the sailboat Labora and brings together sailors, anthropologists, video artists and musicians.
They are accompanied by an extended network of Caribbean and international partners, including :
- Galerie l’Art s’En Mêle, Artocarpe, United Caribbean Artists, Patoray, Waka Films, FaireSens BeeSiw, La Croisée des Chemins, Pointe-à-Pitre Arts Centre.
- Anna Chiara Sabatino, Italian researcher and filmmaker in digital storytelling.
- Tara Douglas, documentary filmmaker from the Adivasi Arts Trust.
- Mark Lindenberg, anthropologist and filmmaker.
- Makeda Martel, artistic facilitator and founder of La Croisée des Chemins.
Guadeloupe's central role in project governance
A local committee supports the development and territorial anchoring of the project:
- Martine Fazer, journalist and director of the International Graffiti and Street Art Festival.
- Arthur Trouabal, former art expert and trainer.
- Raymonde Pater Torin dancer, choreographer and specialist in gwoka.
Their involvement ensures that the project remains connected to local realities without exoticism or folklorization.
Expedition schedule and itinerary
The pilot phase will run from January to May 2025 with stopovers in Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique and probably Saint Lucia. It will enable us to test formats, evaluate logistics, refine the documentation method, and solidify partnerships. The aim is then to extend the project into 2026 gradually linking Trinidad to Cuba with two to three sailboats sailing in coordination eventually.
An invitation to Caribbean artists
The Labora team is launching a call for participation Caribbean artists wishing to get involved in this collective creative process. Whether musicians, dancers, craftsmen, storytellers, video artists or teachers, all are invited to come on board to share their vision of living heritage and contribute to a shared Caribbean memory.
Labora Caribbean Art Expedition is more than just a cultural expedition. It’s a project political, social and educational which uses traditional navigation as a lever for cohesion, resilience and inspiration. By linking islands, it also links memories, heritages and generations. It proposes a new way of thinking the Caribbean from the sea by floating the forgotten voices, the threatened gestures, and the music that carries the soul of the island peoples.
Turks and Caicos asserts its identity as a lively, welcoming archipelago
At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 in Miami, Turks and Caicos highlighted what makes them unique in the Caribbean: an authentic welcome, a unique island diversity and a deep respect for their natural and cultural environment.
Through the voices of the Tourism Board: Experience Turks and Caicos and the Ministry of Tourism, the archipelago affirms its ambition: to offer authentic experiences for every visitor, while accompanying the growth of the cruise business in a sustainable manner.
Human warmth at the heart of the experience - The view from the Comité du tourisme
For Alverson Lewis, Senior Tourism Development Manager at Experience Turks and Caicos (the Tourism Board), authenticity is the soul of local tourism.
” We want every visitor to feel welcomed like a member of the family,” he confides.
Beyond the paradisiacal beaches, the real wealth of the archipelago lies in the warmth of its people and the unique personality of each island.
Each island tells a different story:
Grand Turk, steeped in history,
Salt Cay, guardian of traditions,
Providenciales, famous for its pristine beaches,
South Caicos, an unspoilt natural sanctuary.
” We don’t sell a product, we share a story,” says Alverson Lewis.
🎯 Its aim: to preserve the authenticity of the archipelago, while developing new activities that invite visitors to go beyond the port.
Diversifying and enriching the cruise experience - The Ministry of Tourism's strategy
For Arthur Been, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, cruises are a pillar of the tourism economy in the TCI – but their development must remain harmonious.
Today, the archipelago welcomes over a million cruise passengers a year, mainly via Grand Turk, which offers a rare feature:
a port located just a stone’s throw from a dream beach.
Arthur Been insists on the need to make the archipelago’s hidden treasures better known:
A fascinating historical heritage, linked to the first voyages of Christopher Columbus, John Glenn and the American War of Independence,
Authentic experiences to strengthen the bond between visitor and territory.
” We’re working to create more excursions, more immersive activities, to reveal who we really are,” he explains.
🎯 Its ambition: to continue to exceed visitors’ expectations, without ever betraying the authenticity and natural beauty of the islands.
Turks and Caicos, authenticity as a signature
At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025, Turks and Caicos confirmed their vision:
to make every cruise more than just a stopover, but a true immersion in a preserved Caribbean, welcoming and full of history.
With its warm welcome, island diversity and preservation of authenticity, the archipelago is charting its course: growing without ever denying its soul.
Jamaica affirms its strategy of combining living heritage and maritime excellence
At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 in Miami, Jamaica presented a strong vision: to combine the richness of its cultural heritage with the ambition to strengthen its attractiveness in the cruise industry.
With presentations by Carol Rose Brown and Mark Hylton, Jamaica, an anchor on Caribbean cruise itineraries, asserts its determination to anchor its tourism development in authenticity, innovation and resilience.
Preserving Jamaica's cultural soul - Carol Rose Brown's initiative
For Carol Rose Brown, Director of the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation within the Tourism Enhancement Fund, preserving Jamaican identity is a major challenge in an increasingly standardized tourism world.
At the heart of this approach: the Falmouth Artisan Village.
Designed as a living showcase for traditional skills – ceramics, basketry, leather, sewing, cigars – the village enables visitors to discover, understand and buy directly from local craftsmen.
” We don’t want our culture to be relegated to a mere spectacle: it must be lived, shared, passed on,” insists Carol Rose Brown.
L’Artisan Village also innovates by integrating :
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Immersive technologies (augmented reality, interactive QR codes),
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Free events combining gastronomy, crafts and live entertainment,
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Creative workshops, allowing visitors to actively participate.
🎯 Carol Rose Brown’s ambition: to make every stopover in the island an authentic encounter with the soul of the country, and to extend this cultural model to other sites on the island.
Strengthening cruise competitiveness - The Port Authority's vision
For Mark A. Hylton, Vice President of Cruise Operations at the Port Authority of Jamaica, Island has shown exceptional resilience in the face of recent challenges.
In 2024, despite a major incident that temporarily affected one of the ports, the island maintained a high level of cruise arrivals, thanks to :
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Solid infrastructures,
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Close relations with cruise lines,
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An ability to adapt quickly to new expectations.
The Island is also working on :
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Improve road links to facilitate visitor mobility,
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Develop new attractions around its ports of call,
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Strengthen its position on Western Caribbean itineraries.
” We have to keep innovating to remain competitive, while at the same time promoting what makes Jamaica unique,” stresses Mark Hylton.
🎯 Its aim: to build sustainable growth that benefits both local communities and shipping companies.
Jamaica between heritage and modernity
At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025, the Island demonstrated that cruising can be much more than just transit:
it can become an authentic encounter between travelers and territories.
Buoyed by its lively culture and ability to adapt, the island is charting an ambitious course: to build a strong maritime tourism industry, faithful to its identity and looking to the future.
The Garifunas of Honduras embody a living memory of the Black Caribbean, at the crossroads of history, maritime tradition and contemporary struggles for cultural survival. For this Afro-Indigenous community, artisanal fishing is much more than an economic activity; it is the foundation of their identity. Heirs to a unique blend of escaped Africans and indigenous Caribbean populations, the Garifunas have developed and preserved a maritime know-how that intimately links everyday gestures to a vision of the world shaped by the ocean.
A story born of exile and resistance
The Garifunas of Honduras were not born on the shores of Central America. Their story takes root in the 17th century, on the Caribbean island of Saint-Vincent, where shipwrecked – and sometimes escaped – African slaves found refuge among the indigenous Kalinagos and Arawaks. This mix, unique in Caribbean colonial history, gave rise to a new community: the Garifunas.
But this relative autonomy came to an end with the arrival of the British. In 1797, accused of supporting the French, the Garifunas were captured and deported en masse to the island of Roatan, off the coast of Honduras. From there, they gradually settled on the Caribbean coasts of Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and Nicaragua. It was on these shores that their special relationship with the sea emerged, through artisanal fishing.
Fishing rooted in tradition
Even today, the Garifunas of Honduras perpetuate techniques that have been passed down orally for generations. Far removed from industrial logics, their practice relies on light boats, often made of wood, powered by oars or small motors, as well as on the use of nets, lines and creels. Respect for the reproductive cycle of species, detailed knowledge of currents and the seabed, and the ability to read the signs of the sky are all part and parcel of their expertise.
Fishing is not just a matter of subsistence. It’s a deeply cultural act, closely linked to cuisine, music and spirituality. Traditional dishes such as Machuca (mashed plantain with fish in a coconut milk broth) tell the story of the sea as much as they nourish the body. The transmission of these recipes, the sharing of meals and the songs sung on fishing trips are all part of a genuine community ritual.
A central role for women in the maritime economy
If the figure of the fisherman is often masculine, the Garifunas of Honduras are actually an ecosystem in which women play a central role. They prepare, process and sometimes even sell the fish. They keep culinary practices alive and organize the solidarity networks that keep villages alive. In some communities, they are also involved in coastal fishing, particularly for shellfish.
The Garifuna social model is based on complementarity between the sexes, structured around the extended family and the community. This strong social fabric provides a bulwark against external pressures, but is now under threat.
Land pressure and ecological upheaval
Since the 1990s, the Garifunas of Honduras are seeing their way of life threatened by the expansion of agro-industrial, tourism and sometimes extractive projects on their coastal lands. The development of palm oil plantations, resorts and marinas is encroaching on traditional fishing grounds, sometimes without prior consultation with local communities.
Expropriations, often contested by local residents, raise legitimate concerns about respect for Garifuna land rights. This phenomenon is leading to a scarcity of accessible marine resources, increased pressure on ecosystems and the gradual economic marginalization of fishermen.
Added to this are the effects of climate change. Coastal erosion, rising sea temperatures and disrupted breeding seasons have a direct impact on the abundance and diversity of fish species. The Garifunas of Honduras must now navigate in an increasingly uncertain environment.
Community and legal mobilization
In the face of these challenges, communities are not remaining passive. The Black Honduran Fraternal Organization (OFRANEH), a pillar of the Garifuna movement, has been working for over 40 years to defend the cultural and territorial rights of the Garifunas. It supports the Garifunas of Honduras through awareness-raising campaigns, legal action at national and international level, and support for food sovereignty projects.
Emblematic cases include that of the community of Triunfo de la Cruz, which won its case before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. OFRANEH also campaigns for sustainable fishing practices that respect biodiversity and are adapted to the local ecological context.
Community and legal mobilization
In the face of these challenges, communities are not remaining passive. The Black Honduran Fraternal Organization (OFRANEH), a pillar of the Garifuna movement, has been working for over 40 years to defend the cultural and territorial rights of the Garifunas. It supports the Garifunas of Honduras through awareness-raising campaigns, legal action at national and international level, and support for food sovereignty projects.
Emblematic cases include that of the community of Triunfo de la Cruz, which won its case before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. OFRANEH also campaigns for sustainable fishing practices that respect biodiversity and are adapted to the local ecological context.
A threatened but resilient living heritage
Beyond the material aspects, the Garifunas of Honduras are the guardians of an exceptionally rich intangible heritage. Their language, their music to the rhythm of drums and the puntatheir dances and beliefs linked to the sea make up a powerful symbolic universe. Fishing is both an everyday act and a metaphor for our relationship with the world.
Every trip out to sea, every net cast into the water, is also an act of cultural resistance. Sea tales, work songs and prayers to ancestors before fishing bear witness to a sacred relationship with the environment.
Garifuna of Honduras are not just economic players in coastal areas. They embody a balance between tradition and resilience, between ancestral know-how and contemporary issues. Their presence on the shores of Honduras is a reminder that the sea is not just a space of resources, but also a place of memory, transmission and struggle. Defending their way of life also means preserving another way of living in the world, one that is more respectful of natural and human balances.
The U.S. Virgin Islands assert their cultural and tourist uniqueness
At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 in Miami, the US Virgin Islands (USVI) highlighted what makes them unique in the Caribbean:
a unique cultural heritage, stemming from a Danish history that is still very much alive, combined with an ambitious, sustainable cruise strategy.
Through the voice of Alani Henneman, Deputy Commissioner of the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, the archipelago affirms its desire to combine tourism growth with the preservation of its plural identity.
Three islands, three experiences, authentic hospitality
Tourism, the territory’s leading industry, relies heavily on cruises.
With 1.8 million cruise passengers this year and a forecast of 1.9 million next year, the USVI has confirmed its strategic position on Caribbean itineraries.
Cruising is a year-round activity, with a slight low season in summer.
Efforts made during the pandemic to improve port infrastructures are now bearing fruit: better traffic flow, better flow management, and an upscale customer experience.
Comprising St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, the US Virgin Islands offer a diversity that is rare in the Caribbean.
Each island boasts its own unique atmosphere:
Saint-Thomas, vibrant and dynamic,
Saint-John, unspoilt and wild,
Saint-Croix, steeped in culture and history.
🎯 Alani Henneman’s stated aim: to make the USVI not just a stopover, but a real gateway to discover the richness of the region.
Turning a stopover into a cultural immersion
For Alani Henneman, the major challenge now lies in transforming the cruise experience.
” We have a strong cultural identity that we want to share: the quadrille, Danish architecture, our music and traditions. That’s what we want visitors to experience. “she explains.
The development of new themed excursions and the improvement of the hotel offer are at the heart of the strategy.
The ambition is clear: to encourage cruise passengers to extend their stay, by offering them authentic and memorable experiences.
🎯 If she could grant a wish, Alani Henneman would like to see the creation of new hotels, to turn even more passing visitors into long-term tourists.
USVI, between living roots and the future of tourism
At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025, the US Virgin Islands reaffirmed that it is possible to combine historical heritage, modern tourism and a warm welcome.
By capitalizing on the uniqueness of their history and the diversity of their islands, they are charting an ambitious course:
to make every cruise a true voyage to the heart of an authentic, proudly preserved Caribbean identity.
Saint-Martin asserts its ambition to offer tailor-made cruises for refined tourism
Present at Seatrade Cruise Global 2025 in Miami, Saint-Martin (French part) asserted its unique positioning in the world of Caribbean cruising.
Through the testimonials of Aïda Weinum and Ellis Albéric, the island highlighted its desire to offer an authentic, selective experience that respects its cultural and environmental identity.
Authenticity as a pillar of tourism development
For Aïda Weinum, Director of the Saint-Martin Tourist Office, it’s essential to preserve the soul of the island in a rapidly changing cruise industry.
In Saint-Martin, the choice is clear: no very large liners on the French side, to preserve the balance between tourism and quality of life.
The island favours small cruisers and offers passengers a tailor-made experience, focusing on :
Gastronomy, as Saint-Martin is recognized as the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean,
Cultural workshops, such as cooking classes, dance classes and historical tours,
Authentic discoveries, far from mass tourism.
” We want every visitor to leave with a genuine souvenir, a sincere encounter with our region,” explains Aïda Weinum.
Raising awareness among the local population is also a major challenge, so that everyone becomes a player in this dynamic of upscale hospitality.
🎯 Aïda Weinum’s ambition is to establish Saint-Martin as a refined, human cruise destination, firmly rooted in its Caribbean identity.
A port for customized excellence
Ellis Albéric, Managing Director of the Établissement Portuaire de Saint-Martin, confirms this differentiating strategy on the French side.
The port welcomes only small-capacity vessels, up to 750 passengers, giving priority to :
A human-scale approach,
A quality stopover, without saturation,
Personalized support for tourist flows.
A Caribbean delegation in solidarity in Washington
” Our aim is not to compete with the big ports, but to offer a high-end alternative to companies and passengers alike,” stresses Ellis Albéric.
With a strong season from mid-November to May and growth of over 20%, the port plans to :
Platform expansion,
Dredging the channel to make it easier to accommodate certain units,
Maintaining quality standards in port and tourist services.
🎯 Ellis Albéric’s vision: to make Saint-Martin an exceptional stopover for customers in search of authenticity and refinement.
Saint-Martin, a destination of excellence
At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025, Saint-Martin (French part) demonstrated that authenticity and high standards can be the best allies of an ambitious tourism strategy.
By combining gastronomy, culture, tailor-made hospitality and port excellence, the island confirms its ambition: to remain true to its identity while offering visitors a rare and precious experience in the Caribbean.
The port of Saint Barthélemy is currently the focus of much attention. Faced with growing saturation, the local authority has launched an expansion project, essential to guaranteeing the smooth flow of trade and the island’s prosperity. Here are the issues, challenges and future of this essential infrastructure.
The port of Saint Barthelemy : the island's backbone
An irreplaceable economic role
The port of Saint Barthélemy is more than just a quay where ships dock. It is the logistical heart of the island, through which cement, vehicles, foodstuffs, fuel and various parcels pass every day. For Saint Barthelemy, where almost everything is imported, the port is synonymous with economic survival and social stability. Without it, business and daily life would come to a standstill.
An ever-increasing variety of goods flows
Every year, the port of Saint Barthélemy sees an impressive variety of goods pass through its doors. Containers of fresh produce, building materials, cars, fuel and even equipment for luxury hotels and villas pass through its quays. This diversity of flows underlines the port’s strategic importance for the entire community.
Saturation threatens logistical balance
Unprecedented traffic growth
For the past ten years, traffic at the port of Saint Barthelemy has been growing steadily. After Hurricane Irma and the economic recovery, the island saw a doubling in the number of containers imported. In 2023, nearly 8,500 containers and over 7 million liters of fuel were unloaded. This exponential growth is putting a strain on existing infrastructures.
Practical consequences in everyday life
Lack of space leads to major difficulties. Maneuvering areas are narrow, containers, barges and tankers are difficult to accommodate, and operations are sometimes confused. On some days, it’s almost impossible to simultaneously manage the unloading of a tanker and the arrival of general cargo, which slows down the supply of goods to the island and creates tensions among professionals in the sector.
A necessary expansion project
An investment of 10 million euros
Faced with this saturation point, the local authorities have decided to invest 10 million euros to expand the port of Saint Barthélemy. The project, entirely financed locally, aims to create 2,200 m² of additional quay space, representing an increase of more than 20% in operational surface area. The work, which will take five months to complete, is expected to improve traffic flow and operational safety.
Planning for the future
The expansion is not just about adding space. It also involves reorganizing flows, separating unloading areas, creating dedicated spaces for refrigerated containers and reinforcing security around sensitive installations, such as the drinking water production plant. The inner dock will be filled in to provide a new storage and handling area to meet the island’s growing needs.
The challenges of port management in Saint Barthelemy
Coexistence of different types of traffic
One of the main challenges remains the simultaneous management of different types of traffic. Containers, fuel, unloading barges: each activity has its own constraints. Expansion must be accompanied by more rigorous organization to avoid conflicts of use and guarantee the safety of all those involved.
Regulate to avoid further saturation
Expanding the port also means running the risk of further traffic growth. To avoid further saturation, the local authority is considering modulating the port tax according to the length of stay of goods, in order to encourage regular rotation and limit quay congestion. This regulation will be essential to maintain the port’s efficiency over the long term.
The port of Saint Barthelemy, a pillar of public finances
Quay dues: a major resource
A 5% wharfage charge is levied on all goods unloaded. This tax, which replaces VAT on the island, brings in almost 23 million euros a year for the local authority, making the port the second-largest source of public revenue after property transfer taxes. This simple, effective tax system enables the island to finance its infrastructure without resorting to debt.
A direct impact on island life
Revenues generated by the port account for almost a quarter of the community’s budget. They are used to finance investment in schools, health, roads and safety. The smooth running of the port therefore determines not only the supply of goods to the island, but also the quality of life of its inhabitants and the community’s ability to invest in the future.
Expanding the port is much more than a simple infrastructure project. It’s a concrete response to current saturation and a gamble on the island’s economic future. Thanks to this investment, the port of Saint Barthelemy will be able to continue playing its role as the backbone of the island’s supply, security and prosperity for years to come.
