THE HAITIAN NORTH TOURISM MARKET CHAIN :: FACTSHEET

ASSISTANCE ACTION PLAN FOR LOCAL TOURISM INITIATIVES

Based on a Gap Analysis developed from onsite inspection of tourism assets and interviews with tourism stakeholders throughout Haiti, the TOURISM ASSISTANCE WORKPLAN is intended to support the strategy developed by the Ministry of Tourism, with focus on the North, which will be most effective in achieving growth and reinvigorating tourism as an economic engine and job generator for the nation.

The USAID Haiti MarChE tourism team has analyzed the significant potential for linking products from the agribusiness, music, artisan, and crafts market chains to the tourism sector with products.

Target opportunities have been prioritized and will be pursued for linkages to the following components of the tourism market chain: hotels and lodging; restaurants; airports; and special events such as festivals.

SITE DEVELOPMENT AND ATTRACTIONS

The Citadelle and Palais Sans Souci sites have been identified as being best a representing what make Haiti unique.

They offer the greatest potential for attracting and hosting large numbers of visitors, and thereby generating the most jobs and economic opportunities.

The MarChE team will be working with other USAID partners to provide the necessary infrastructure to make these two sites suitable for international visitors.

The team will also assist the Ministry of Tourism in training tour guides to meet international standards, providing interpretive collateral materials in French, English and Spanish, and establishing walking trails highlighting historic and cultural significance.

 

QUALITY SEAL

To restore trust in Haiti as a tourism destination, the quality and consistency of tourism products in Haiti need to meet international standards.

An important step is the creation of a highly-visible Quality Seal program of annual inspections and ratings following completion of the initial round of regional training throughout Haiti.

The Ministry of Tourism has established a list of standards for stakeholders in the tourism industry that will be used as a central element in this initiative.

 

TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR OPERATIONS AND SERVICE

MarChE will provide a two-tiered training and technical assistance effort that focuses primarily on mid- to upper- management training in a national hospitality training school in Cap Haitien, and then provide additional training to mid-management and front line staff.

 

TOURISM VIA MUSIC, ART AND CULTURE

A Marketplace will be created as designated facility for displaying and selling authentic Haitian arts and handicrafts.

Additionally, MarChE will link Haitian musicians, artists, and artisans with international markets by participating in U.S.-based music festivals, encouraging tour companies to set up tours around Haitian village festivals, and developing a Haitian Heritage Festival.

 

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION BUILDING

The strong Haitian Tourist and Hoteliers' Association (ATH) and regional tourism associations can add value to tourism in Haiti by working as equal partner with government to form a Northern coalition for Tourism to examine and recommend changes to regulations, practices and legislation that negatively impact tourism and job creation.

MarChE tourism staff will serve as an honest broker with the Government and private sector in the formation of this relationship and process.

 

TOURISM INVESTMENT FACILITATION

Many of the recent investors in the tourism sector in Haiti are Haitian Diaspora.

MarChE will help the Investment Facilitation Center to establish a Tourism Investment Committee, which will provide support and technical assistance to individuals and small-scale, large-scale and corporate investments in tourism.

Another initiative, the Haitian Marketplace, creates a business competition targeting the Haitian Diaspora to encourage investments in productive sectors of Haiti.

MarChE staff will work to inform, encourage and assist Diaspora in submitting tourism initiatives.

Another means of promoting investment, the Haitian Inns concept, will provide a template for the construction, operation and marketing of a basic inn that can be built anywhere in the country.

 

MARKETING

MarChE will focus first on promoting Haiti as a tourist destination to the global travel industry and media, and secondly to travelers.

The program will develop a tourism promotional video, a national website, a public relations campaign in support of tourism growth, and a travel trade fairs program.

FACTSHEET RESULTS MAP CALENDAR MARCHE RESOURCE

 

 

 

 

 

@2009 MarChE