In our Blue Tourism Initiative framework, the well-known tourism consultant Patricia Rajeriarison is working on assessing the blue tourism potential for Sainte Marie Island, in the northeast of Madagascar, under the direction of CORDIO East Africa.

During her field mission, Ms. Rajeriarison analised the different tourism aspects of this mature coastal and marine destination, from the hospitality sector to the whale season. 

During the participatory workshop with Office du Turisme de Sainte Marie (OTSM), Delegation du Turisme (DELTO), Agence Portuaire, Maritime et fluviale (APMF), Project Poles Interes de Croissance (PIC), GRET, and many others the associations, they had the opportunity to discuss many issues, most of them related to blue tourism, such as turtle conservation and consumption, waste management, accommodation, and restaurants situation, among others.

During the 2nd component, the Blue Tourism Initiative will enable the launch of concrete eco-blue tourism actions in this destination following the results of this initial pilot study, to improve tourism strategies toward more sustainable management and local economic development.