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tourism - Haiti Observer Blog

tourism, Haiti Observer Blog. Read the following articles about tourism


 

Best Western, the First Full-Service Corporate U.S. Brand Hotel in Haiti

Carabimmo SA, based in Haiti and Aimbridge Hospitality, based in Dallas have opened a hotel called Best Western Premier Petion-Ville in Haiti. This $15 million worth of hotel has been built in association with Best Western International and it located in Petion-Ville's upmarket suburb. The hotel opened on 28th March, 2013 and is referred to as 'the first full-service corporate U.S. brand hotel in Haiti'. The 7-storey luxury hotel features 3 imperial and executive suits and 106 guest rooms. The Best Western is loaded with amenities like flat screen TVs of 42" each, Wi-Fi, gym and spa with full-service, meeting space of 2000 sq. ft. capable of accommodating up to 160 guests and concierge service.

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International Tourism not Good for Government and Culture

Since Haiti's 2010 earthquake, the government has targeted agriculture, export, and tourism as solutions to put Haiti back on its feet. Minister of Tourism Stephanie Villedrouin has been proactive in attracting foreign investment to grow Haiti tourism. But the problem is international tourism, which has not contributed much to local governments' economies. Foreign countries, who invest in new resorts and hotels, earn the lion's share of profits. Local governments receive very little, and the outlays for supporting infrastructure cost them more than they can afford. They need the International Money Fund to help carry the burden of financing international airports, road projects, sanitation systems, power grids, and telecommunication systems where hotels and resorts are being erected. International tourism in Haiti drains local economies more than it adds to them.

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Tourism is to the Caribbean as Oil is to the Middle East

Tourism in the Caribbean has been happening since before Haiti became a republic in 1804. In the beginning, the very rich traveled to the Caribbean to experience the benefits of its health resorts, some of which offered hot springs. Tourists chose which of the islands they favored according to the official language spoken: The English preferred Jamaica; the French, French Martinque; and the Dutch, Curaçao.

As the Caribbean grew to be a tourist destination in the 60s, international airlines began offering non-stop flights. This changed the character of the tourist profile, which had been only the wealthy, but now became middle-class as well. Once the hospitality and tourism industries saw the potential for big profits in the Caribbean, they began investing in the region.

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Huge Development and Tourism Plans for Ile a Vache, Haiti

Most of the recent developmental agendas relating to Haiti pointed out to one common aspect - tourism. Haiti is blessed with Ile a Vache island located off Les Cayes' southeast coat. Spanning over an area of 52 sq. km. this island, as mentioned by Tourism Ministry, is the final frontier of true Caribbean treasure. The Ministry of Tourism is aiming towards developing a sustainable tourism industry in Ile a Vache that will help to improve the standard of living for the locals and at the same time, open doors for cross-border tourism.

The aim of the Ministry of Tourism is to create a low-density development focusing on eco-tourism while highlighting areas like history, agro-tourism and cultural heritage that will cover 20 beaches that are mostly deserted. The plan also includes solar-powered electricity-run vehicles instead of regular cars. The Ministry plans on attracting investors from countries like wider Caribbean, China, Qatar and Dominican Republic.

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Haiti last in tourist destinations, ranking 140 out of 140 countries in 2013

Tourism is one of the leading industries in many countries - in fact, all countries. However, some countries actually manage to capitalize on the natural, cultural and historical diversities they have while others fail dramatically. The classic example is Switzerland which topped the list of 'most favorite tourist destination in the world' for 5 consecutive years. According to the recent reports, the top five spots are all taken by European countries in Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index. Canada managed to jump up by one spot and took the eighth place. The country draws international tourists because of its cultural diversity and historical heritage and also because of its natural resources. However, the country did lose some grounds on policies for environmental protection and competitive pricing.

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The Plan for the Development of Ile a Vache Presented to the Public

The Haitian Government has unveiled its plan for the development of the beautiful island of Ile a Vache. As part of the overall development of tourism in Haiti, the Ministry of Tourism has proposed to transform this island located just south of the city of Les Cayes into a destination for adventure, romance and wellness.

A presentation of Ile a Vache by La Bonne Nouvelle:

Main focus of the plan will be to develop eco-tourism-style development, highlighting areas like cultural heritage, agro-tourism and history. The project is divided in many phases with the first phase to develop bungalows and villas in the region of Anse Dufour located near the village of Madame Bernard.

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Paul Magloire, Haiti's 35th president

Paul Magloire, Haiti's 35th president, was born in 1907, heir of a military father. He followed his father's career path, enlisting in the army and rising to Chief of Police in Port-au-Prince.

Paul Magloire played a pivotal role in overthrowing two Haitian presidents, Élie Lescot and his successor, Dumarsais Estimé. President Estimé, in a fruitless effort to draw out his time in office, attempted to amend the Constitution. The mulatto elite aided Magloire in deposing Estimé. Magloire then took the reins of power as President of Haiti.

During his term, Paul Magloire poured money into tourism, Haiti becoming known as a desirable vacation destination for foreign travelers. Imposing a tax on coffee-bean exports, he used the monies for development projects, raising living standards of the impoverished, as well as improving city services. Most notably, he gave the right-to-vote to women. In foreign policy, he forged stronger relations with the Dominican Republic, reversing the violent and unstable history they had shared in the past.

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Stephanie Villedrouin wants a Caribbean airline for Quick Tourism exchange

Minister Stéphanie Villedrouin continues her 2013 push to free Haiti from international aid through tourism. Remembering president Martelly's opening speech at the Caribbean Community's (Caricom) 24th Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of State and Government, in which he called the tourism industry a key sector and stressed its potential and importance in driving the country's economic growth, Villedrouin spoke of the need for a Caribbean airline.

She highlighted that travel would be easier to destinations other than Haiti or Jamaica, citing the Dominican Republic, with whom the government wishes to create a multi-destination package, as one such country to benefit. While this plan may seem counter-productive to driving tourism to Haiti, it would make it easier for visitors to neighbouring islands to take sojourns to the country that may have been too cumbersome before.

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Les Cayes Tourism School To Open

Haiti has taken another step forward to boost the country's tourism industry. In a bid to improve the quality of the country's tourism services, the Ministry of Tourism is all set to open a training school in Les Cayes. The Hotel and Tourism Training Institute was established to train and hone the skills of only 60 students. Under the program, the students will be taught and trained by professionals who will be recruited from Les Cayes and from the Hotel School of Port-au-Prince.

Students can now enroll as the admission period will last until February 15. The training school will offer various subjects and programs involving the reception and accommodation of tourists, as well as housekeeping and bar services. The program is meant to enhance the skills of Haiti students in order to provide the best of services to tourists.

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Jacmel and the Tourism Industry

Being one of the major and historical towns in Haiti, Jacmel has become a popular tourist destination. It is among the cities that many tourists visit because of everything it has to offer. Jacmel, which is the capital of the Sud-Est department, is known for its charm, history, arts and architecture, among others.

Staying in Jacmel for a vacation is comfortable, given the number of guesthouses and hotels available in the town. What's better is that the accommodation in Jacmel is normally cheaper than in other cities. There are several famous hotels in the town, including Hotel Cyvadier, Hotel Florita and high-end Cap Lamandou Hotel.

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