MADAGASCAR
GUEST COUNTRY AT THE 2018 GRAND PAVOIS.

Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2018: 46^th edition of the show (created in 1973),
Associative show managed by water sport professionals,
Six days of exhibition, from Wednesday 26 September to Monday 1 October 2018, from 10 am to 7 pm,
800 exhibitors, 750 boats on show over 100,000 sqm of exhibition space,
More than 250 new features presented each year and 85.000 visitors expected,
Top Five international in-water rendezvous.

Sights set on…
With memories of the Sultanate of Oman (editor’s note, 2017 guest country of honour) still fresh in our minds, the Grand Pavois La Rochelle is delighted to officially announce that MADAGASCAR will be the guest country of honour in 2018! A genuine journey will be offered to the 85,000 visitors, since MADAGASCAR will be present in a 750 m² hall devoted entirely to presenting its tourism, cultural, water sport and gastronomic assets.
“It is a great honour and joy for the Grand Pavois La Rochelle to welcome Madagascar as the 2018 guest country of honour” declared Alain Pochon, President of Grand Pavois Organisation. “We are convinced that Madagascar will awaken the curiosity of the expected 85,000 visitors and we already know that the hall that will be reserved for them will be one of the main attractions of our 2018 event. We also believe that many water sport professionals will be very interested in this country which is attracting growing interest and already offering many water sport activities””

Madagascar, Treasure Island
Lying 400 kilometres off the eastern coast of the African continent and bathed by the waters of the Indian Ocean to the east, Madagascar is an invitation to travel. White sand beaches, a turquoise sea, verdant natural parks with an endemicity record estimated to be over 80%, magnificent landscapes that vary from one region to another: the Grande île fully deserves its nickname as an island continent.
To the east, the humid forests of Antananarivo and its six UNESCO World Heritage national parks attract nature lovers and those looking for wild, protected areas. From Sainte-Marie to the Bay of Antongil, the north-east coast has become famous for being one of the best places in the world for whale watching.
Western Madagascar combines turquoise blue water, vast stretches of savannah and forests of endemic baobabs. Its vast and stunning protected natural areas are a true haven for birdwatchers.
The north on its own is a potted version of the Grande île, with its mountains, the Tsingy de Bemahara, true limestone cathedrals recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites, and its paradisiac islands. To the north-west, the fish-filled waters promise some incredible fishing.
The south attracts visitors with its sun all the year round, its Bush and its lagoons that provide magnificent scuba-diving spots. To the far south, from Lavanono to Fort-Dauphin, its wild coast and its large waves are very popular with top surfers from around the world.
The Central Highlands shelter stunning landscapes of rice paddies laid out on terraces, lakes and craters and brick houses in radiant colours, It is the perfect playing field for hiking enthusiasts.
Nosy Iranja, the Emerald Sea, Isalo and its natural setting that bears a resemblance to the American Far West, the Avenue of the Baobabs and its legendary sunset, the lemurs in Andasibe, and more. These are just some of the things that conjure up the immense tourism treasures of the Grande île.
Each encounter with its population, famous for its natural sense of hospitality, is an authentic experience. A land of culture and ethnic mix, Madagascar transports you to another world…