Saint-Paul

Saint-Paul dominates Réunion's western leeward coast where sheltered conditions and lower rainfall created the island's primary tourism zone. The arrondissement encompasses the beach destinations that generate Réunion's leading economic sector: Boucan Canot with its hotels and restaurants, Saint-Gilles-les-Bains as the main seaside resort with marina and aquarium, and La Saline-les-Bains with its spectacular beach. Tourism revenues now surpass sugar production as Réunion's primary income source—a sectoral phase transition concentrated along the north and west coasts where Saint-Paul serves as the anchor. The 447-hectare Étang Saint-Paul National Nature Reserve (designated 2008) preserves the island's largest wetland, demonstrating how tourism economy can coexist with conservation when natural assets attract visitors rather than competing for land. Saint-Paul's weekly market—running Friday morning through Saturday morning on the seafront esplanade—sells vegetables, exotic fruits, peppers, vanilla, and local honey, functioning as both local commerce and tourist attraction. This dual function illustrates niche partitioning: the same geography serves residents and visitors through different mechanisms. The west coast position, tucked away from prevailing trade winds and Atlantic swells, created the calm water conditions essential for beach tourism. Path dependence amplified: early tourism infrastructure attracted more investment, creating the critical mass of hotels, restaurants, and activities that Saint-Paul now concentrates.