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.
