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FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique, August 22, 2007 - While other parts of Martinique took a beating from Hurricane Dean, hotels came out virtually unscathed said Madeleine de Grandmaison, chairman of the Martinique Tourism Authority.
She said that the gardens and landscapes were extensively impacted but none of the 160 hotels and resorts will be closed.
The Aimé Césaire International Airport re-opened on the weekend and flights have resumed normal service.
"Those of us in the tourism sector are certainly counting our blessings today," said Muriel Wiltord, Director USA & Latin America for the Martinique Promotion Bureau.
"A few hotels reported minor flooding and there were several broken windows, but other than that the island's tourism industry held up extremely well."
French prime minister Francois Fillon will arrive in Martinique Wednesday to survey the damage. He will then go on to Guadeloupe where tropical storm force winds from the hurricane destroyed 80% of the banana crop.
France Telecom said that the hurricane knocked out about 70,000 customers - about half of its customers. Fixed-line service has been restored to about 20,000.
About 40% of its mobile phone network is still out of order due to power cuts.
One of France Telecom's exchanges was destroyed by fire during the hurricane.
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