In this poignant op-ed, Frédérique Dispagne, The manager of the Patio Foyalais in Fort-de-France raises crucial questions about the future of tourism in the «capital city.» Following a recent fire that disrupted hotel operations, Ms. Dispagne offers an unflinching assessment of the challenges facing tourism professionals in Fort-de-France. From safety concerns to infrastructure issues and a lack of entertainment options, she highlights the many obstacles hindering the city’s tourism development. While outlining these difficulties, the author proposes solutions and calls on local authorities to take concerted action to revitalize the city center and support tourism stakeholders.
Is it still possible to engage in tourism in downtown Fort-de-France?
My WhatsApp is vibrating. He’s right. This is important news for two reasons: the state of downtown businesses and the success of tourism in Foyal.
«A fire broke out overnight in the heart of downtown Fort-de-France"
The fire broke out overnight (July 14–15) in a vacant storefront. Guests at the Impératrice Hotel were evacuated.
A fire broke out last night on Antoine Siger Street in Fort-de-France around 2:40 a.m. According to our sources, it appears to have been a motorcycle fire that spread to a building at number 10, a vacant storefront (…) Firefighters who responded had to prevent the fire from spreading, particularly toward the Hôtel l’Impératrice on Rue de la Liberté.»
My immediate thought is: the hoteliers handled it—just as we innkeepers and shop owners so often do.
We’ve dealt with problems that aren’t our responsibility, and we’ve dealt with the problems specific to our geographic location: Fort-de-France, and especially its city center.
I myself manage a vacation rental in Fort-de-France, at 19 Rue Achéen (formerly Rue Gallieni): Le Patio Foyalais. How much longer will we, as tourism providers, have to deal with problems that aren’t our responsibility and that fall under the jurisdiction of our city?
Why does a tourist choose to visit Downtown? It’s a valid question, especially since many Martinicans avoid going there. Based on my seven years of experience, I think I can offer some possible answers to this question. I even strive to provide a sustainable and constructive solution for every obstacle.
Tourists come to Downtown to be halfway between southern and northern Martinique, not to mention its Center.
For example, if a tourist stays for two weeks, they can take advantage of the ferry service to explore our beaches during the first week. They might rent a car to travel to the north during the second week.
These ferry services go on strike very frequently. These are not sporadic strikes, but long and seemingly endless ones—strikes that cannot be ignored by citizens and/or tourism professionals.
Our tourist, who had imagined the City Center as HIS main route to Les Trois-Ilets or Anses d’Arlet by sea… had completely misjudged the situation. Too bad for us, who were counting on this major thoroughfare for Foyal tourism—and now our tourist is holding it against us. We, the tourism hosts.
The solution exists—or rather, it’s easy to implement: each hotel should set up alternative shuttle services with strictly scheduled departures. It’s a no-brainer. Legal and regular tourist taxis.
The shuttles would pick up guests from hotels in Foyal in the morning and drop them off in the late afternoon. On both the outbound and return trips, there would be virtually no traffic congestion, as we would be traveling in the opposite direction of traffic.
Many tourists don’t want to rent cars to get to the island’s beaches. Calling all innovative Martinicans: How about a round-trip to Les Salines, Tartane, or Les Trois-Ilets by minibus for my tourists? I’ll sign on the dotted line right away with any entrepreneur who offers me this alternative.
Tourists come to Downtown to experience a certain urban atmosphere, to enjoy the world and do so safely. This brings us to the issue of uncontrolled loitering, which inconveniences locals and tourists every day—and which earned me this “kind” review on Booking: «A neighborhood with a lot of homelessness—we were harassed and followed.»
Another customer explained this to me while cutting his stay short: «I love your patio, but not your city. I'm heading to Schoelcher right now—it'll be quieter and cleaner there.»
Homelessness... how many complaints, feelings of insecurity, and actual dangers, disturbances, aggressive begging, and frequent insults are there?.
While talking with other business owners, particularly hoteliers, one of them wondered about the long-term viability of keeping his terrace open, which overlooks downtown.
The solution? It’s simple and purely a matter of public health and policy: managing homelessness and mental illness, addressing drug addiction, and establishing treatment centers to care for our fellow citizens in need in the North, the South, and the Center.
Homeless people come from all over Martinique and hope that by spending time in the city, they’ll see more foot traffic and have better luck begging. In a well-managed society, the streets are not where they belong. We are failing our homeless people, our fellow citizens struggling with addiction: our government has abandoned them. At present, we offer them no support system worthy of their humanity. This is, without a doubt, a local responsibility shared by the three EPCIs and falling to the CTM, which must serve as the undisputed leader in this effort.
Tourists come to Downtown to enjoy a wide variety of restaurants and food shops. For now, and to satisfy him, I’m proud to be able to mention Garnier Pagès Street. It’s a start, you have to admit. But other than that? My customers complain that they can’t find restaurants or much choice in downtown Fort-de-France, especially in the evening—and don’t even get me started on Sundays. Whose fault is that? Tourists constantly ask me about the opening of the wooden huts that are supposed to breathe new life into Fort-de-France on its Savane.
Many of them complain that their dollars are not accepted in stores.
Perhaps color-coded systems to make it easier for tourists to get around, so they can easily identify each street in the downtown area. When might that happen?
The solution is so simple: the streetscape of Garnier Pagès Street took shape in just a few months.
Why not expand this successful concept to at least five streets—the busiest and most strategic ones—to add color and vibrancy to Fort-de-France?
Aren't the City of Fort-de-France's community outreach teams paid to carry out these outreach activities?
A call to all Foyalais community volunteers: it is by launching more initiatives like those of the shopkeepers on Rue Garnier Pagès that we will succeed.
Tourists stay at tourist accommodations to have access to water in their rooms and bathroom amenities. Let’s talk about our recurring, unplanned outages… Almost as frequent as Christmas. Nevertheless, is it a “gift” to see our guests storm in furious and demand refunds for their stays because they’re ALSO paying to take a shower? Don’t these outages make running a business even more complicated? Isn’t the necessary use of water an integral part of the production process for restaurant owners? For tourism accommodation providers who, in addition to their rooms, also offer a restaurant—and let’s go completely overboard: a spa—aren’t they, in fact, subject to regulatory health requirements? How can they manage restricted access to restrooms in dining areas during these times of water shutoffs?
And I'm still wondering about our compensation as a facility open to the public (ERP).
Where on earth is that so-and-so who used to lecture me on tourism quality and has now left me on my own, to be yelled at as the person responsible for ensuring the quality of my establishment?
The water bills arrive a few weeks later, with no sign of a discount.
At the very least, where are the words of apology and respect for the residents, citizens, lodging providers, restaurant owners, and shopkeepers—words that would cost nothing more than a little humility and good manners on the part of all these officials who are so full of empty rhetoric?
The solution is also simple while we wait for our elected officials to reach an effective agreement: the City should fund the installation of water tanks and substantial water reserves for all these public buildings.
Sometimes I’m tempted—just a wave of a magic wand—and I’d instantly transport the Patio Foyalais to Trois-Îlets or Le Diamant. Okay, I’ll pull myself together… I tell myself every day Come on, you can do something for your city...
Frustrated by these circumstances beyond my control—beyond my sphere of influence—I stare in disbelief at my comments on social media, and I mourn this i, well, like that mandatory and located in the downtown area.
Today is July 15. The fire broke out overnight (July 14–15) in an abandoned store. The guests at the Impératrice Hotel were evacuated.
I sympathize with this hotelier, who is facing an additional challenge that is completely unfamiliar to him.
L'Impératrice, a 3-star hotel at 15 rue de la Freedom, in Fort-de-France.
What kind of freedom? The freedom of peaceful trade? Certainly not.
Frédérique DISPAGNE
Manager of Patio Foyalais, who will not resign
