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Reviving tourism in Haiti

Catherine Deshayes

Inspired by what is being seen as Haiti's most stable moment in a generation, President Rene Preval's Government is planning various incentives to entice tourists to the poorest nation in the Americas and the largest cruise ship in the world is amongst the attractions...

Haiti is hoping for a renaissance. Despite its rich history - it was the first independent nation in Latin America, the first post-colonial independent Black-led nation in the world, and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion - the poverty stricken country just can't seem to lure in the tourists.

Boosting the number of visitors would have a huge impact on the economy, so a bold plan has been put in place to lure tourists to northern Haiti, far from the dilapidated capital Port-au-Prince and its rash of slums.

Easier access is also being created, which always helps to pull in the punters. Haitian Tourism Minister Patrick Delatour said the Government recently signed a deal with Venezuela for an international airport, Haiti's second, in Cap-Haitien, its second-largest city.

And, as of December this year, the largest cruise ship in the world, the Oasis of the Seas, will be doing a stopover at the beach resort of Labadee.

Political unrest has led to the drop off in tourists, but, currently the country is enjoying a period of relative calm.

The next move could be to build a road between Labadee and Haiti's World Heritage Site, a park containing the famous Citadelle Laferriere fortress and the Sans Souci palace built by Henri Christophe, a leader of the slave revolt that freed Haiti from French rule in 1804.

The Government hopes to lure in four million visitors a year, putting Haiti on a par with the Dominican Republic, which attracted 4.2 million last year.

"In 2011 we will be able to say that Haiti is back on the world tourism map," Mr Delatour said.

Picture by M Erikkson