Minister of Tourism John Herrick Dessources• ©️Primary
Cap-Haitien, 8 July 2025.- To the 16th edition of the « National Tuesdays », held this Tuesday, July 8, in Cap-Haitien, the Minister of Tourism, John Herrick Dessources, presented the outline of the government plan to revitalize the tourism sector. This strategy places particular emphasis on the regions of the North and the South, considered as essential levers to revive the Haitian tourism industry.
While interdepartmental connections remain difficult — with expensive flights and roads completely controlled by armed gangs —The government states that it wants to value historic sites, strengthen infrastructure, modernise public services and provide more support to stakeholders in the sector.
In a press release, the Government clarified that priority actions include the restoration of the Historic National Park. — including the Laferrière Citadelle, the Sans-Souci Palace and the Ramiers site — as well as the rehabilitation of emblematic buildings, such as the École du tourisme des Cayes and the former premises of the departmental departments of the North and the Grand-Anse.
On this occasion, the Minister also announced the creation of an investment portfolio to transform the North and the South into major tourist hubs. Other measures include the establishment of a National Tourism Council comprising the public and private sectors, the strengthening of the Tourist Police (PoliTour), the standardization of vocational training, and the recruitment of new executives through a national competition.
He took the opportunity to express the government's solidarity with the owners of the recently arsoned Oloffson Hotel, which he strongly condemned as an attack on Haitian cultural heritage.
However, persistent insecurity continues to undermine any development initiative. The government, despite its commitments, seems to avoid facing this problem at the same time as it remains the major obstacle to any sustainable tourism recovery.
W.E.
