ARTICLE - DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST SITES

"MICHEL AND STEPHANIE" TALK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST SITES
(Haiti Libre) -

During a press conference in Les Cayes, last Tuesday during the 2012 National Carnival, Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin, the Minister of Tourism, and President Michel Martelly explained what they were planning to carry out for the development of our tourist sites.

Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin, explained what her Ministry intends to do to put in place reception structures at some sites "[...] I must tell you that we have so many natural and built sites in the country, that we will not be able, in the first year, to put in place reception structures at all sites. However, in the southern region we have identified five sites that we will support; where we will set up structures, restrooms, restaurants, information, so that when tourists visit these sites, they can find a safe place where they can stay and eat [...] We will also establish a committee, so that all sites can be cleaned and supported. This is what we will set up at the Ministry level... with 5 sites, to start in the South..."

In his speech, President Martelly stressed that "...in the last 20-25 years, we can say that there was a left-to-itself at all levels, with the result that anything we want to do today is goint to take a little time... We have natural resources, it's true, but if you take for example the Citadelle, this is a site that should already be attracting tourists; nothing has ever been done [...] Small, very simple works that the Haitian State should do, like putting in a toilet for visitors, ramps so that tourists who visit do not fall, lights on the stairs, make an effort to ensure that the disabled have access... All these little things that were never done​​, make made Haiti disappear from the tourist map [...]

Today, the biggest thing that we have is leadership; a Minister of Tourism who is dynamic! This is the first time in at least 20 years that Haiti has appeared in a world tourism conference [Madrid Spain] [...] The first thing we do today is to prepare, conduct studies, and identify... often people talk only of Jacmel or Labadie, but I have a Minister of Tourism who is 'endiablée', who speaks of the Great South, of the possibilities, of the wealth that there is on the South Coast. She knows more than me. She is a native of Côtes-de-Fer, 21 kilometers of white sand... we work to put our resources into value [...] even for surfing, Côtes-de-Fer has great waves, but, even if there are waves, where will we house and feed the visitors? There is a hospital in the area, and places to celebrate? So, progressively we will do these things, but it will take time..."