Cassandra François
Minister of Tourism of Haiti
Juan David Latorre
Earlier this month, Haiti’s Minister of Tourism Cassandra François attended the 24th General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization, and The Diplomat was able to interview her to shed some light on the situation in the Caribbean country.
Is it possible to carry out any kind of tourism project with the destabilisation and uncertainty in your country right now?
On the other hand, some local destinations such as Cap-Haïtien or Nord continue to offer experiences for tourists wishing to discover the other side of Haiti, made up of history and culture. Even if we are going through some difficulties today, Destination Haiti still exists through these local destinations in the north of the country.
What projects and strategies does the Haitian government have in place to bring back international tourism?
In the Haitian context, the development of the tourism sector is essential for economic growth and the creation of sustainable jobs, as it is one of the strong points of the country’s development. The Ministry of Tourism is therefore implementing two major projects to enhance the country’s cultural wealth and history: the Integrated Tourism Development Region (RAID SUD) project, implemented in the south, the main component of which is the strengthening of local SMEs in the post-Covid context; and the second project is dedicated to the enhancement of heritage in the Department of the North. In addition, the consolidation of tourist landmarks in the north, centre and south through the establishment of a strategy for the recovery of the tourism sector in these areas, especially in the south which has been highly affected by the recent disasters, the revision of new laws on tourism to regulate tourism activity, as well as training, are, among others, the projects that the Ministry of Tourism wants to carry out in the short and medium term.
We are also counting on redefining the brand image of Destination Haiti by launching a new marketing strategy and a tourism information and awareness campaign. This campaign will not only reshape the country’s image, but will also promote the development of local tourism. This strategy will be based on the promotion of regional destinations which, on the one hand, will encourage internal tourism mobility, and on the other hand, will motivate the Haitian diaspora and young people to become involved in the sector based on their locality. Therefore, the objective will be the great North around the National Historical Park, Citadelle – Sans Souci – Ramiers, to turn this region into a major tourist destination not only for the country, but also for the entire Greater Caribbean region as a natural result of Haiti’s historical role in the struggle for the emancipation of the peoples of the Americas.
What does Haiti currently offer to international tourists?
Haiti has favourable climatic conditions, a strategic geographic location in relation to important markets, seaside potential, and historical and cultural riches that allow it to develop several internationally competitive tourist destinations and products.
Local and rural tourism is the calling card of the Caribbean countries, including Haiti. However, unlike other countries in the region, Haiti has much more to offer.
Haiti has always been a land of welcome and hospitality. Therefore, the first thing we offer our potential tourists is our hospitality. Our history, and above all the strength of our culture, makes Haiti a unique corner of the Caribbean, in addition to our beaches.
On the other hand, we are in the process of redefining the product packages that we can offer to our potential visitors, taking into account the new realities of the global tourism industry. We are looking for a tourism that respects the communities, hence our vision of developing a tourism based on the “All Inclusive Regional” concept. It is a concept that aims to connect tourists directly with local communities, allowing them to benefit as much as possible from the potential economic impact.
Is the chaos in Port-au-Prince, as reported in the international press, likely to kill off tourism in the future, as the airport pays the price for gang vandalism?
It is true that the current situation is causing a significant slowdown in tourism, in addition to Covid-19; however, it cannot completely wipe out tourism activities in Haiti. The Toussaint Louverture and Cap-Haïtien international airports are operational, and the port of Labadie will soon be operational in early 2022.
We know of certain Caribbean countries with a tourist vocation that are facing certain difficulties due to insecurity and bad press in some of their cities. However, they have prioritised and developed other regions of the country by offering adapted tourism products, and therefore tourism has not stopped and continues to fuel the economies of these countries. While it is true that we are facing certain difficulties, tourism could not disappear from Haiti. On the other hand, the tourism sector is considered an engine of economic development for Haiti. Tourism will disappear if the government does not take measures to counteract acts that could be harmful to public peace. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, strategies have been identified to put an end to this problem as quickly as possible.
