AGP Executive Report

Le Diamant: A new feature spotlights Grande Anse du Diamant’s palm-lined shore, varied volcanic sands and dramatic view of Diamond Rock. The surf is wild, so visitors can enjoy the scenery on a beach walk. Creole Music: Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival returns October 23–25 in Roseau, with Martinique zouk singer Maurane Voyer among the performers — a nearby option for travelers seeking Caribbean music and culture. Martinique Sounds: Jamaican star Shaggy praised SHAZ’s shatta remix of “Boom Body,” drawing fresh attention to shatta, a Martinique-born sound with growing reach across the French Caribbean and beyond.

Le Diamant’s Coastal Draw: Martinique’s southwestern beach pairs a long shoreline, coconut palms and volcanic sand with a striking view of Diamond Rock. The surf can be wild, but the setting makes Grande Anse du Diamant a standout for visitors. Neighbouring Island Experiences: Grenada plans to launch Pure Experiences, promoting locally run tours across Grenada, Carriacou and nearby Petite Martinique, from food and heritage outings to nature and marine activities.

Le Diamant: Martinique’s southwestern coast is getting a spotlight for Grande Anse du Diamant, where black and lighter sands, rolling surf and palm-lined shore meet the striking offshore Diamond Rock. Martinique Sounds: Shaggy praised SHAZ’s shatta remix of “Boom Body,” drawing fresh attention to the Martinique-born genre and its growing reach. Creole Festival: Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival runs October 23–25, with Martinique singer Maurane Voyer among the performers—an easy regional event to pair with an island trip.

Le Diamant Beach: Martinique’s southwestern coast pairs a long, palm-fringed shoreline with volcanic sand, views of Morne Larcher and the striking Diamond Rock offshore. The surf and dramatic scenery make Grande Anse du Diamant a standout for beach walks and a memorable island visit.

Martinique Heritage: A new account of Indian indentureship in the French Caribbean recalls workers who returned to Guadeloupe and Martinique, adding context to the islands’ shared cultural history. Nearby Island Experiences: Grenada’s “Pure Experiences” launches in mid-October, promoting locally run cultural, culinary, nature and marine activities across Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Regional Recognition: Dominica placed 11th among 20 Caribbean and Atlantic islands in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, with its rainforests, rivers and waterfalls among the attractions. Music and Events: Shaggy endorsed a shatta remix of “Boom Body,” spotlighting a genre that emerged in Martinique. Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival runs October 23–25, with Martinique zouk artist Maurane Voyer on the lineup.

Martinique’s Shatta Sound: Shaggy praised SHAZ’s shatta remix of “Boom Body,” drawing fresh attention to a genre that grew out of Martinique and is spreading beyond the French Caribbean. Regional Tourism: Grenada plans to launch Pure Experiences in mid-October, promoting locally run tours across Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique—the Grenadian island, not Martinique. Nearby Destination: Dominica ranked 11th among 20 Caribbean and Atlantic islands in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, with its rainforests, rivers and waterfalls highlighted. Festival Travel: Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival runs October 23–25 in Roseau, with Martinique singer Maurane Voyer on Friday’s lineup.

Regional Recognition: Dominica ranked 11th among 20 Caribbean and Atlantic islands in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, with its rainforests, rivers and waterfalls helping draw visitors. Local Experiences: Grenada plans to launch Pure Experiences in mid-October, promoting locally run tours across Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique—not Martinique. Creole Culture: Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival runs Oct. 23–25, with Martinique singer Maurane Voyer on the lineup. Tourism Leadership: Alexandre Ventadour has been named tourism commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority, with a mandate to raise the island’s profile and advance sustainable tourism.

Regional Destination Appeal: Dominica placed 11th among 20 Caribbean and Atlantic islands in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, praised for its rainforests, rivers, waterfalls and hot springs—strong nature-tourism draws close to Martinique. Locally Led Experiences: Grenada plans to launch Pure Experiences in mid-October, promoting locally operated tours across Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, from food and heritage to nature and marine activities. Martinique Tourism Leadership: Alexandre Ventadour has been named tourism commissioner, with a mandate to raise the island’s global profile and build industry partnerships around authenticity, innovation and sustainability.

Music & Culture: Martinique’s shatta sound reached a wider audience as Shaggy praised SHAZ’s shatta remix of “Boom Body,” a fresh cross-Caribbean take on his hit. Tourism Leadership: Alexandre Ventadour was named tourism commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority. He takes the helm with a focus on raising the island’s profile and advancing authentic, sustainable tourism. Regional Events: Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival runs October 23–25, with Martinique zouk artist Maurane Voyer on the lineup — a nearby celebration of Creole culture for travelers to consider.

Tourism Leadership: Alexandre Ventadour has been named tourism commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority, succeeding Bénédicte di Geronimo. A former vice president of the authority, he will lead efforts to raise Martinique’s international profile, strengthen industry partnerships and put authenticity, innovation and sustainability at the center of the destination’s tourism strategy.

Martinique Tourism Leadership: Alexandre Ventadour has been named tourism commissioner, succeeding Bénédicte di Geronimo. A former vice president of the Martinique Tourism Authority, he is tasked with boosting the island’s international profile and partnerships, with authenticity, innovation and sustainability among its priorities. Cruise News: Ambassador Cruise Line’s winter 2027–28 and 2028–29 Caribbean fly-cruise seasons will include calls in Martinique, bringing visitors to the island on itineraries departing from Barbados and the UK.

Martinique Tourism Leadership: Alexandre Ventadour was named tourism commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority, taking over from Bénédicte di Geronimo and pledging to boost Martinique’s global visibility and partnerships with a focus on authenticity, innovation, and sustainability. Creole Culture & Events: The World Creole Music Festival 2026 is confirmed for Oct 23–25 in Dominica (Windsor Park, Roseau), with a verified official lineup and major names including Ne-Yo and Machel Montano—useful for Martinique travelers planning Creole-season trips. Regional Air Connectivity: Caribbean Airlines says it will resume Trinidad–Caracas passenger service from Oct 31, and add a weekly non-stop Toronto route from Oct 25, supporting leisure and business travel across the region. Tourism-Adjacent Governance: Saint-Martin’s Executive Council approved European education funding and a €1.49m payment schedule tied to a Computech dispute, with decisions also covering tourism and public services. Sports Tourism Angle: Grenada and Carriacou will host a regional open-water swim (Nov 19–22, 2026), adding destination experiences to help drive visitor spend beyond peak beach season.

Martinique Tourism Leadership: Alexandre Ventadour has been named tourism commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority, taking over from Bénédicte di Geronimo and pledging to boost Martinique’s international visibility through partnerships and a sustainability-focused strategy. Creole Music Tourism Buzz: The World Creole Music Festival 2026 is confirmed for October 23–25 in Dominica (Windsor Park Sports Stadium, Roseau) with a verified official lineup and major names including Ne-Yo and Machel Montano—useful for regional travelers planning Creole-season itineraries. Regional Air Connectivity: Caribbean Airlines says it will resume Caracas service from October 31, 2026 and launch a weekly non-stop Toronto route from October 25, supporting leisure and business travel across the Caribbean. Sports Tourism Angle: Grenada is expanding its sports calendar with the Grenada & Carriacou Open Water Swim (Nov 19–22, 2026), combining races with destination experiences that could inspire similar event-led visitor demand. Local Culture & Language Context: A language feud in Guadeloupe over Creole vs French highlights ongoing cultural tensions that can shape visitor perceptions and local community atmosphere across the French Caribbean.

Martinique Tourism Leadership: Alexandre Ventadour has been named tourism commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority, taking over from Bénédicte di Geronimo and pledging a push for stronger partnerships, sustainability, and global visibility for the French-Caribbean destination. Regional Air Connectivity: Caribbean Airlines announced it will resume non-stop passenger service between Trinidad and Caracas from Oct 31, and add a weekly non-stop to Toronto from Oct 25, aiming to boost tourism and business travel. Sports Tourism Link: Grenada is expanding its sports calendar with the Grenada & Carriacou Open Water Swim (Nov 19–22, 2026), mixing races with destination experiences to draw visitors year-round. Marina Access Dispute (Travel Impact): A letter raises concerns about yacht owners being stuck at Tyrell Bay Marina in Carriacou due to a long-running access fence issue, calling for temporary, legally authorized passage so vessels can be launched and leave. Culture & Language Tensions: A language feud in Guadeloupe over Creole vs French has sparked outrage online, highlighting how cultural identity issues can spill into public life across the region.

Martinique Tourism Leadership: Alexandre Ventadour has been named tourism commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority, taking over from Bénédicte di Geronimo and pledging a push for stronger partnerships, sustainability, and global visibility for Martinique as a French-Caribbean destination. Sports Tourism & Regional Spotlight: Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz are still chasing CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final qualification after a 2-0 win over El Salvador, with Martinique’s earlier shock result now part of the wider group picture; meanwhile, the matchday focus keeps Martinique in the headlines across the region. Travel Connectivity Watch: Caribbean Airlines announced it will resume direct passenger service between Trinidad and Caracas from Oct 31, and add a weekly non-stop to Toronto from Oct 25—good news for regional leisure and business travel planning. Local Travel Disruption (Carriacou): A letter raises urgent concerns about yacht owners trapped at Tyrell Bay Marina in Carriacou due to a reported access fence since April 25, calling for temporary, legally authorized access to get vessels safely launched and out. Culture & Community: A language feud in Guadeloupe over Creole vs French highlights ongoing tensions tied to identity and colonial history—an issue that resonates across the French Caribbean.

Martinique Tourism Leadership: Alexandre Ventadour has been named tourism commissioner of the Martinique Tourism Authority, taking over from Bénédicte di Geronimo and pledging to boost Martinique’s global visibility with a focus on authentic, innovative and sustainable tourism. Air Connectivity for the Region: Caribbean Airlines says it will resume non-stop passenger service between Trinidad and Caracas from Oct 31, and launch a weekly non-stop Toronto route from Oct 25, plus additional charter flights—good news for regional leisure and business travel. Tourism & Culture Spotlight: A guide to the “loveliest Caribbean islands” highlights options beyond beach time, including hiking, diving, birding and culture—useful inspiration for Martinique visitors planning multi-island trips. Sports Tourism (Neighbouring Islands): Grenada is expanding its sports calendar with the Grenada & Carriacou Open Water Swim (Nov 19–22, 2026), mixing races with destination experiences to draw repeat visitors. Local Travel Disruption Watch (Carriacou): A report raises concerns about a long-running access dispute affecting yacht owners at Tyrell Bay Marina in Carriacou, with calls for a temporary, controlled route to get vessels back in service.