News

Haiti Names New Tourism Minister

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - March 28, 2016 - 10:04 pm

Haiti’s renewed tourism hopes are now in new hands.

The country has named a new Tourism Minister to succeed former Tourism Minister Stephanie Villedrouin, who went a long way in reviving the country’s long-dormant tourism sector.

The new minister is Guy Didier Hyppolite, who will now steward a sector that has re-emerged as a legitimate tourism destination in the Caribbean after years of neglect.

Didier pointed to Villedrouin’s work in his first address, saying that she had “managed the almost impossible challenge to put our beloved Haiti on the world tourist map.”

Now that job falls to Didier, who said he would continue to promote “the beauty of our beloved country” and to help assist operators and build the “structural foundation essential to sustainable development” of the sector.

Dider comes with hands-on experience in the sector, most recently serving as the general manager of the Le Relais de Chateaublond restaurant in Haiti’s Canne a Sucre historical park, among other posts.

It remains an uphill climb for Haiti as a destination, but Hyppolite enters the post with momentum from new airlift from carriers like JetBlue and Haiti, a new all-inclusive resort, the Royal Decameron, and a host of new hotels, both open and in development.

In a statement, Villedrouin said her greatest wish was that Haiti would continue on its plan to receive 2 million annual visitors and 30,000 hotel rooms by the year 2035.

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


This Marriott All-Inclusive Resort Is Coming to Barbados —  And You Can Book It With Points

new brand for the caribbean

Barbados has long been a haven for adults in search of refinement — the kind of place where luxury and culture blend in quiet, confident harmony. Now, that ethos is becoming the foundation of a new resort concept that aims […]


Related Posts curacao hospitality training

Curaçao Is Expanding Its Tourism Workforce as Tourism Numbers Keep Climbing

Curaçao is ramping up efforts to strengthen its tourism sector with a renewed focus on hospitality training. A total of 57 participants recently received certificates after completing the Hospitality Industry Training Program, an intensive course designed to prepare workers for […]


Anguilla’s New Tourism Campaign Is About “Less Screen Time, More Island Time”

anguilla maundays

Anguilla has been making a push as a year-round tourism destination (in large part thanks to hotels like Aurora Anguilla), something that’s been starting tp pay off.  Now, the island is looking to position itself as an escape — and […]


The Caribbean’s Biggest Tourism Event Just Kicked Off in Antigua and Barbuda 

antigua barbuda

The Caribbean’s biggest tourism event, the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, has officially kicked off in Antigua and Barbuda. Organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, this year marks the first time the twin-island nation is hosting the event, which runs […]