Articles tagged “haiti”

Though not as popular as other Caribbean islands, Haiti has been a tourist destination for decades but with the 2010 earthquake, key players on the ground consider the past year as the starting point for tourism in the country and the Haitian diaspora is leading this charge.

Haiti is pinning its economic growth on tourism and hopes its naturally attractive environment will attract visitors and provide the boost needed to get the nation back on its feet after the 2010 earthquake.

It is a mixture of timing and strategy that landed Best Western in two of today's most challenging hotel markets, but its agility to convert and brand properties has raised its profile abroad.

Haiti is ranked last among 140 countries in travel and tourism competitiveness for 2013 in a recent World Economic Forum analysis. Kudos to Best Western for doing something to turn that around as the hotel chain goes after business travelers in Haiti.

Best Western is the first of several U.S. and international brands building in Haiti and preparing the island for a tourism growth that the country would like to see take the place of aid workers and diplomats.

Haiti’s nascent tourism hopes were dashed last week since other countries often follow advisories put out by the U.S. government. We’ll wait to see if Haiti’s objections have any impact on the advisory.

Haiti had taken some early steps in promoting tourism again, including a new big-brand hotel opening and tourism ads in Florida, but this will nip those hopes in the bud, at least for now.

This is a win-win for the travel blogging world that gives brands a boost, bloggers an altruistic image, and helps build up communities that may not be tied to a Twitter feed.

Haiti has clear markers to prove its potential -- island neighbor Dominican Republic and its private beaches run by cruise lines -- but it needs to make a clear pitch to potential travelers that promises them the Caribbean vacation they dream about.