Before You Arrive: Preparation is Respect

"The worst tourists arrive expecting paradise served on a platter," observes Marie-Claude Thébia, who has worked in Martinique's tourism industry for twenty years. "The best visitors come as students, ready to learn, aware they're entering someone's home, not a theme park."

This chapter provides practical guidance for engaging respectfully with French Caribbean communities, whether you're visiting for days or staying for years, whether you're diaspora reconnecting with heritage or complete newcomers to Caribbean culture.