Tourism in Haiti

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Tourism in Haiti is an industry that generated just under a million arrivals in 2012, and is typically one of the main sources of revenue for the nation. [1] With its favorable climate, second-longest coastline of beaches, and most mountainous ranges in the Caribbean, [2] [3] waterfalls, [4] caves, [5] colonial architecture and distinct cultural history, Haiti has had its history as an attractive destination for tourists. However, unstable governments have long contested its history and the country's economic development throughout the 20th century. [6]

Contents

Overview

Labadee, a cruise ship destination Labadee.jpg
Labadee, a cruise ship destination

In 2012, the industry generated US$200 million (mostly from cruise ships). [1] In December 2012, the US State Department issued a travel warning about the country, noting that while thousands of American citizens safely visit Haiti each year, foreign tourists had been victims of violent crime, including murder and kidnapping, predominantly in the Port-au-Prince area. [7] Several hotels were opened in 2012, including a Best Western Premier, [8] a five-star Royal Oasis hotel by Occidental Hotel and Resorts in Pétion-Ville, [9] a four-star Marriott hotel in the Turgeau area of Port-au-Prince [10] and other new hotel developments in Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes, Cap-Haïtien, and Jacmel.[ citation needed ] Other tourist destinations include Camp-Perrin, Pic Macaya, and Île-à-Vache which includes Port Morgan and Abaka Bay resorts.[ citation needed ] The four-star all-inclusive 400-room beachfront Royal Decameron Indigo Beach Resort & Spa, Cote des Arcadins opened in December 2015.

The Haitian Carnival has been one of the most popular carnivals in the Caribbean. In 2010, the government decided to stage the event in a different city outside of Port-au-Prince every year in an attempt to decentralize the country. [11] [12] The National Carnival which is usually held in one of the country's largest cities (i.e., Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haïtien or Les Cayes), follows the also very popular Jacmel Carnival which takes place a week earlier in February or March. [11]

History

Early boom

The Cordasco House, a 19th-century Gothic gingerbread mansion PortAuPrincePacot.jpg
The Cordasco House, a 19th-century Gothic gingerbread mansion

Like most tourism during the turn of the 19th century, tourism in Haiti ostensibly began with a series of popularized travelogues. Many of these travel narratives were themselves the result of the "opening up" of Haiti during the US Occupation (1915-1934) and Western capitalist expansion across the greater Caribbean. Authors invariably wrote on topics concerning racism and "The Negro Question" (i.e. whether Haiti and blacks in general were capable of civilization and self-rule), Haitian revolutionary intrigue, and voodoo mystique. The sights which these texts reported became the foundation for the country's more celebrated attractions following World War II. [13]

In the late 1940s and 1950s, tourists flocked to the waterfront area of Port-au-Prince, redeveloped to allow cruise ship passengers to walk from the docks to the famous cultural attractions. Among these attractions was the Moorish-styled Iron Market, where fine Haitian art and mahogany were sold, as the evenings were accompanied by dancing, casino gambling, or Voodoo shows. The exclusivity attracted the likes of Truman Capote and Noël Coward to the Hotel Oloffson, a 19th-century Gothic gingerbread mansion set in a lush tropical garden, which even was glorified in the Graham Greene novel, The Comedians. [6]

Haiti's brief tourism boom was wiped out by the rule of Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier and his unstable government. However, when his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier succeeded him as President for Life, tourism returned in the 1970s, and again Haiti was a hot spot tourist destination drawing an average of 150,000 visitors annually, [14] behind the Dominican Republic at the time which received 278,000 tourists in 1975. [15] Tourists flocking to Haiti's new seaside beach resort, included Bill and Hillary Clinton who honeymooned there in 1975. Vive la différence has long been Haiti's national tourism slogan, [16] and its proximity to the United States made Haiti a hot attraction until the Duvalier regime was ousted in 1986. [14]

Late 20th century

Since the second half of the 20th century, tourism in Haiti has suffered from the country's political upheaval. Inadequate infrastructure also has limited visitors to the island. Following the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1991, tourism has recovered slowly. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has joined the Haitian government in efforts to restore the island's image as a tourist destination. In 2001, 141,000 foreigners visited Haiti. Most came from the United States. Further improvements in hotels, restaurants, and other infrastructure still are needed to make tourism a major industry for Haiti.

Due to recent political instability, tourism (once a significant industry) has suffered in Haiti, except for Labadee, a port located on the country's northern coast. Labadee is a resort leased long-term by Royal Caribbean International. Although sometimes described in advertisements as an island in its own right, it is actually contiguous with the rest of Hispaniola. Labadee is fenced off from the surrounding area. The cruise ships dock at the pier and passengers disembark directly to the resort without being allowed to visit other parts of the country. Attractions include a Haitian flea market, traditional Haitian dance performances, numerous beaches, water sports, and a water park. [17] [18]

The city of Jacmel, due to its reputation as being less politically volatile, its French colonial era architecture, its colorful cultural carnival, pristine beaches, and a nascent film festival, has been attracting local tourists and a small amount of international tourism. [19]

Despite obstacles, Haiti's rich culture and history has allowed the country to maintain a moderate and potentially rising tourist industry. [20]

The well-preserved Cathedral Notre-Dame of Cap-Haitien. Cathedral of Cap-Haitien.jpg
The well-preserved Cathedral Notre-Dame of Cap-Haïtien.

World heritage

These are the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites in Haiti: [21] [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haiti</span> Country in the Caribbean

Haiti, officially the Republic of Haiti, is a country on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and south of The Bahamas. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti is the third largest country in the Caribbean, and with an estimated population of 11.4 million, is the most populous Caribbean country. The capital and largest city is Port-au-Prince.

All of the major transportation systems in Haiti are located near or run through the capital, Port-au-Prince.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henri Christophe</span> Haitian revolutionary; founder and ruler of the Kingdom of Haiti (1807–11)

Henri Christophe was a key leader in the Haitian Revolution and the only monarch of the Kingdom of Haiti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cap-Haïtien</span> Commune in the department of Nord, Haiti

Cap-Haïtien, typically spelled Cape Haitien in English and often locally referred to as Le Cap, Okap or Au Cap, is a commune of about 274,000 people on the north coast of Haiti and capital of the department of Nord. Previously named Cap‑Français and Cap‑Henri during the rule of Henri I, it was historically nicknamed the Paris of the Antilles, because of its wealth and sophistication, expressed through its architecture and artistic life. It was an important city during the colonial period, serving as the capital of the French Colony of Saint-Domingue from the city's formal foundation in 1711 until 1770 when the capital was moved to Port-au-Prince. After the Haitian Revolution, it became the capital of the Kingdom of Haiti under King Henri I until 1820.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nord (Haitian department)</span> Department of Haiti

Nord (French) or Nò is one of the ten departments of Haiti and located in northern Haiti. It has an area of 2,114.91 km2 (816.57 sq mi) and a population of 1,067,177 (2015). Its capital is Cap-Haïtien.

The culture of Haiti is a creolized blend of African, European and Taino elements due to the French colonization of Amerindian land, in conjunction with the large diverse enslaved African population whom had later freed themselves by a successful revolt. These attributions have largely influenced the art, cuisine, literature, music, religion as well as the languages of Haiti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacmel</span> Commune in Sud-Est, Haiti

Jacmel is a commune in southern Haiti founded by the Spanish in 1504 and repopulated by the French in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est, 24 miles (39 km) southwest of Port-au-Prince across the Tiburon Peninsula, and has an estimated population of 40,000, while the commune of Jacmel had a population of 137,966 at the 2003 Census. The town's name is derived from its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel. In 1925, Jacmel was dubbed as the "City of Light," becoming the first in the Caribbean to have electricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrefour, Haiti</span> Residential commune in Ouest, Haiti

Carrefour is a largely residential commune in the Port-au-Prince Arrondissement, in the Ouest department of Haiti. Port-au-Prince has a population of 1,234,742 while the commune has a population of 501,768.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citadelle Laferrière</span> Historic fortress and symbol of Haitian independence

The Citadelle Laferrière, commonly known as La Citadelle, is a large early 19th-century fortress located in Milot in Nord, Haiti. It is situated on the Bonnet à l'Evêque mountaintop located approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) uphill from the town of Milot, 27 kilometres (17 mi) south of the city of Cap-Haïtien, and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) southwest of the Three Bays Protected Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labadee</span> Village in Nord, Haiti

Labadee is a private resort located on the northern coast of Haiti within the arrondissement of Cap-Haïtien in the Nord department. In 1985 the government of Haiti under the leadership of the dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier leased the area to Royal Caribbean Group, for the exclusive use of passengers of its three cruise lines: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises. The lease was later extended to 2050. The resort is completely tourist-oriented and is guarded by a private security force. The site is doubly fenced off from the surrounding area; passengers cannot leave the property and locals cannot enter. Food available to tourists is brought from the cruise ships. A controlled group of Haitian merchants are given sole rights to sell merchandise and establish their businesses in the resort. Although sometimes described as an island in advertisements, it is actually a peninsula contiguous with the island of Hispaniola. The cruise ship moors to the pier at Labadee are capable of servicing the Oasis class ships, which was completed in late 2009. The commercial airport that is closest to Labadee is Cap-Haïtien International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sans-Souci Palace</span> Historic building in Milot, Haiti; royal residence of Henri Christophe (King Henry I)

The Palace of Sans-Souci, or Sans-Souci Palace, was the principal royal residence of Henry I, King of Haiti, better known as Henri Christophe. It is located in the town of Milot, approximately five kilometres (3 mi) northeast of the Citadelle Laferrière, and thirteen kilometres (8 mi) southwest of the Three Bays Protected Area. Being among the first buildings constructed in a free Haiti after the Haitian Revolution, the Palace and the neighboring Citadelle, are Haitian icons and global symbols of liberty, and were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Haiti</span> State in northwestern Hispaniola from 1811 to 1820

The Kingdom of Haiti, or Kingdom of Hayti was the state established by Henri Christophe on 28 March 1811 when he proclaimed himself King Henri I after having previously ruled as president of the State of Haiti, in the northern part of the country. This was Haiti's second attempt at monarchical rule, as Jean-Jacques Dessalines had previously ruled over the First Empire of Haiti as Emperor Jacques I from 1804 until his assassination in 1806.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean</span> Overview of tourism in the Caribbean

Tourism is one of the Caribbean's major economic sectors, with 25 million visitors contributing $49 billion towards the area's gross domestic product in 2013, which represented 14% of its total GDP. It is often described as, "the most tourism-dependent region in the world".

Haitian Carnival is a celebration held over several weeks each year leading up to Mardi Gras. Haitian Defile Kanaval is the Haitian Creole name of the main annual Mardi Gras carnival held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Mangonès</span>

Albert Mangonès, was a Haitian architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Royal Chapel of Milot fire</span> Church fire in Milot, Haiti

On April 12, 2020, at 3 AM, a structure fire broke out beneath the roof of the Royal Chapel cathedral in Milot, Haiti. By the time firefighters arrived to stop the fire from spreading, the dome of the cathedral had collapsed and the rest of the building was already badly burnt. The dome collapsed, causing the loss of everything inside the building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National History Park</span>

National History Park is a national park in Haiti established on 1968. It is located in Milot. It was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

References

  1. 1 2 Daniel, Trenton (8 July 2013). "Haiti hopes push to woo tourists pays off". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, Vermont. pp. 5A. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Geography: Haiti" . Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  3. ↑ NgCheong-Lum, Roseline (2005). Haiti (Cultures of the World). New York, NY: Times Editions Pte Ltd. (1995). p. 19. ISBN   0-7614-1968-3 . Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "In Haiti, Beauty That Plays Hard to Get (To)" . Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "The Caves of Haiti" . Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  6. 1 2 Clammer, Paul (1 February 2014). "Is Haiti The Caribbean's Best New Destination?" . Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "Haiti Travel Warning". Bureau of Consular Affairs. Archived from the original on June 23, 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Best Western International targets 120 new hotel projects in 2013". Traveldailynews.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Charles, Jacqueline. "Petionville: Haiti gets new luxury hotel". MiamiHerald.com. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  10. ↑ with Barbara De Lollis (29 November 2011). "Marriott announces first hotel in Haiti". Travel.usatoday.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  11. 1 2 "More than 300,000 people celebrated the Carnival 2012 in Les Cayes". Haitilibre.com. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  12. ↑ DeGennaro, Dr. Vincent. "Global Doc: Kanaval" . Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  13. ↑ Landon Yarrington, "From Sight to Site to Website: Travel-Writing, Tourism, and the American Experience in Haiti, 1900-2008." M.A. thesis, Department of Anthropology, College of William and Mary.
  14. 1 2 Clammer, Paul (1 February 2014). "Is Haiti The Caribbean's Best New Destination?" . Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Dominican Republic - TOURISM". countrystudies.us. Archived from the original on 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  16. ↑ Showker, Kay (2000). Northern and Northeastern Regions. p. 80. ISBN   9780762705474 . Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  17. ↑ Beaubien, Jason. "For Your Next Caribbean Vacation, Haiti ... Maybe?". All Things Considered. NPR. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  18. ↑ Inskeep, Steve. "Royal Caribbean Provides Tourists, Relief To Haiti". Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  19. ↑ "Haiti" . Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  20. ↑ "9 Haitian Wonders" . Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  21. 1 2 "National History Park – Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers". UNESCO World Heritage. 1982. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
  22. ↑ "National History Park". World Heritage Site. 1982. Archived from the original on 2014-09-16. Retrieved 2014-09-22.
  23. ↑ Cheesman, Clive (2007). The Armorial of Haiti: Symbols of Nobility in the Reign of Henri Christophe. London: The College of Arms.

Notes

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