Above: carnival in Les Cayes earlier this year (Photo: MT Haiti)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti has launched work on a tourism development plan for the country’s southern region, according to Tourism Minister Stephanie Villedrouin.

The plan, which began Monday, falls under the framework of an agreement with Mexico’s FONATUR organization signed in July by Haiti Ambassador to Mexico Guy Lamothe and Mexican Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara Manzo.

The agreement includes the arrival of specialists from FONATUR, Mexico’s National Trust of Tourism Development.

Villedrouin launched the plan with a presentation in Aquin.

Haiti’s government has been pushing a general plan of so-called decentralization eyed at developing the country’s outer regions.

That was part of the reasoning behind holding the country’s national carnival in the city of Les Cayes in February.

Haiti President Michel Martelly has said he would be in favour of another new city hosting the event in 2013.