Martinique’s tourism development strategy took a major step forward with the announcement of new nonstop flights aboard Norwegian Air Shuttle from three major gateways in the northeastern United States—New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), and Baltimore/Washington, DC (BWI). The new service, which began Dec. 3, 2015, represents the first time that Martinique has been directly accessible from the Northeast in more than 20 years.
New nonstop flights from the Northeast aboard Norwegian mark the latest in a series of air service developments making Martinique more accessible to U.S. travelers than ever before. And, for the peak winter season, which began Dec. 17, 2015, American Airlines will operate, from Miami to Martinique, every day except Wednesday.
Martinique is clearly the destination on the move. Now more affordable thanks to the euro/dollar exchange rate, Martinique has also been recognized in the past few months:
- Ranked #1 Must-Visit Place in the Caribbean in 2015 by Caribbean Journal
- Ranked in the Top 5 of the Best Romantic Islands in the Caribbean (2015) by USA Today
- Ranked in the Traveler’s Choice Awards for the Best Beaches (2015) by TripAdvisor
- Named Best Caribbean Island for Romance in 2015 by Business Insider
Martinique’s tourism industry is also seeing unprecedented growth in the cruise sector. “The Isle of Flowers” has experienced a 524 percent increase in cruise passenger arrivals since 2010. For the 2014-2015 cruise season, the Martinique Tourism Authority is projecting 220,000 cruise passengers among the 176 scheduled port calls. Additional growth is also expected through 2016 as a record 22 ships are slated to make their first ever port calls in Fort-de-France between Oct. 26, 2015 and Aug. 31, 2016.
Cruise passengers will get a sense of Martinique’s dynamism immediately upon coming ashore in Fort-de-France and entering the Martinique Cruise Village. Initially launched for the 2013-2014 cruise season, the Cruise Village provides a vibrant and colorful welcome to the Isle of Flowers. Cruise guests are met with English-speaking vendors accepting U.S. dollars and selling all types of local art and souvenirs. Helpful and informative guides are also on hand, offering tips on what to see, do, taste, and experience during port calls in Fort‑de-France.
Shopping adventures in downtown Fort-de-France and Trois-Ilets are also easier on the wallet these days as the U.S. dollar continues to remain strong on global currency markets versus the euro. This ensures that American travel budgets will extend further in Martinique than at any time in the past decade. For more information, visit martiniquepro.org. To become a Martinique Destination Specialist, visit edu.recommend.com/martinique.
