Tourism in Haiti after the January 2010 Earthquake - Research Paper Example

Full Submitted Tourism in Haiti after the January Earthquake Even before the January earthquake, traveland tourism has already been regarded as one of Haiti’s promising industry, given its unique climate, history and culture (Lundahl 64). According to Hudman and Jackson, “Haiti offers tourists at least four important attractions: its culture including African voodoo and associated African music; shopping, especially in the Iron market; the unique scenery; and outstanding beach resorts” (134). In fact after WWII, Haiti was among the leading countries that had taken advantage of the international tourism that had aroused from the global economic restoration. This had created in Haiti an estimate of more than 60,000 direct and indirect jobs, contributed a 3.5% share to the country’s GDP, and earned an annual income of $50 million. (International Monetary Fund 34) According to Americas, during 1950s and ‘60s Haiti had been one of the strongest competitors in the tourism industry in the Caribbean (qtd. in Pawlowski 1). However, the development of tourism in Haiti has been historically lopsided and marred with many setbacks. Even during the most auspicious times, Haiti’s tourism has never attracted a significant portion of the total Antilles tourist market. Only Labadie on the northern coast has achieved consistent success, being the docking site of tourist cruises in the Caribbean (Lundahl 64). It was in Labadie where the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has been landing in Haiti for nearly 30 years, without informing tourists that it is actually part of Haiti, instead referring to it as an ‘island’ on Hispaniola (Lazar, par. 12-3; Pawlowski 2). Furthermore, the worsened political and social instability since the ending of Jean-Claude Duvalier’s dictatorial regime in 1986 (Hudman and Jackson 134) plus the inadequate infrastructure needed by a flourishing tourist industry – the focus of Duvalier’s later investments, have greatly pulled Haiti’s tourism industry backward, leaving a mere 800 hotel rooms available for tourists by the latter part of 1990s (Street 5). After Duvalier’s fall, though Haiti’s political leadership remains unstable, the second ascension to Presidency of Rene Preval in 2004 has brought a slow yet better changes to Haiti, such as, a stabilizing Haiti’s political climate; a steadying economic growth since 2006 (Lies 43-4) with an improved annual growth rate from 1.8% (2005) to 2.4% (2009) (International Crisis Group 8); and positive prospects to Haiti’s tourism industry. In fact, before the earthquake a number of positive indicators show renewed interest for Haiti as a tourist destination in the Caribbean. For example, the Choice Hotels plans to establish two hotels in Jacmel, Southern Haiti; a second international airport in Cap-Haitien is to be built by Venezuela; and a positive review and promotion on Haiti as one of the most exciting travel destination is being plugged by Lonely Planet. (Pawlowski 1-2) Seeing tourism more from an economic perspective, which Pearce defined as “tourism’s ability to generate income, jobs and corporate profits, bring in foreign exchange, boost tax revenues, diversify the economy and aid regional development,” (qtd in Pearce 4) despite its not yet so stable political climate and fragile security situation, Haiti’s tourism is getting its boost to improve the country’s poor economy. Then in one instant, a natural disaster had crumbled to the ground the small gains yet vital start to bounce back Haiti’s tourism, leaving Haiti in a far more dismal state. Earthquake in Haiti’s Tourism Even after the largest and most devastating earthquake that had ever hit Haiti on the 12th of January 2010, Haiti’s tourism is still widely seen to be the country’s key to economic recovery, citing northern Haiti, which fortunately was spared of the earthquake wreckage, as the country’s focus of tourism development (Smets, par. 8). With the earthquake having literally ruined Port-au-Prince – Haiti’s capital and port city – yet giving much media exposure, the crisis was immediately maximized, making disaster tourism or recently referred to as “dark tourism” (Sharpley 9) alive and well, but resulting to greater health risks among the injured earthquake survivors (Van Hoving, et al. 201). As Ryan defined: “… tourism is about experience of place. The tourism ‘product’ is not the tourist destination, but it is about experience of that place and what happens there: [which is] a series of internal and external interactions” (qtd. in Burns 31). In fact, the disaster have brought in many humanitarian aid workers, journalists, medical personnel and volunteers all in need of a place to rest, a clean water to drink and to take a bath, and a reliable WiFi for speedy communication, filling all the hotels in Port-au-Prince that had survived the disaster (Schmall, par. 4). Whether this is ethical or not, the fact remains that people for whatever reason it might be tend to see places of destruction in person (Sharpley 5) and for as long as there are people of this kind, dark tourism will always have its economic significance to be taken advantage of, especially of a poverty stricken and a disaster prone country like that of Haiti. Understanding the general characteristics of tourism as an industry would help better assess the effect of earthquake to Haiti’s tourism. Though there are different models in defining the characteristics of tourism, Peter M. Burns’ generally accepted model (see Figure 1) would suffice. He enumerated the four primary elements of tourism as (a) travel demand, which pertains to the different factors that enable more travel; (b) tourism intermediaries, which pertains to people and institutions that facilitate travel; (c) destination influences, which pertains to historical importance, accessibility, and political and economic stability; and (d) a range of impacts and relationships (25-6). Following the Burns model, aside from dark tourism which is only temporary, what travel demand could possibly lure tourist to Haiti? Though the earthquake had left Haiti in total devastation, only Port-au-Prince was actually affected. Other parts of the country, specifically the northern part, remain in-tact with plans for tourism development still in progress. Furthermore, disaster tourists coming to Haiti from different parts of the globe to help earthquake victims while being stirred by their predicament may in their stay appreciate what is beautiful in the country, (Pawlowski 3) which unique and rich culture and breathtaking sun and scenery are enough to bring back vacationers. However, though it is true that the cultural advantage of Haiti for tourism is not ruined by the earthquake, its already insufficient and not so developed tourism intermediaries have been vastly destroyed specifically those in the capital. For example, aside from its hotels which many were crushed to the ground, the road to Port-au-Prince was almost destroyed, making transport too difficult that disaster tourist and some adventure seekers would only dare to take. On the other hand, the two cities of Haiti – Cap-Haitien on the north coast of Haiti and Jacmel in the south – being envisioned as an alternative tourist destination to the capital lack the necessary and at par standard infrastructure (Smets, par. 2) making it harder to lure high-income visitors. Moreover, Haiti’s tourism destination influences, aside from its historic connections, which after the earthquake had become more prominent, its economic and political stability, which have been too, fragile have become even more fragile as rehabilitation of people’s livelihoods and normalization of economic activity will surely take years to achieve (International Crisis Group 6) even at best conditions, which is most unlikely. Taking the range of the impact and relationship of these primary elements of tourism, which in totality pictures a negative image, it would be natural for many not to believe that tourism could bring economic recovery to Haiti, because in truth, even before the earthquake, Haiti’s tourism is already in crisis. On the onset, it could be said that the earthquake had not only pulled back the initial gains of tourism in Haiti, but had even put it in a much more difficult situation creating a more negative image that only sympathetic and curious, adventurous disaster tourist would cater to it. However, Avraham and Ketter have pointed out that the substantial efforts to improve Haiti’s socio-economic-political situation have to be combined with a positive image building of the country. They offered different strategies by which to do this. Among the strategies relevant to Haiti’s case are as follows: (1) ‘acknowledging the negative image’ – this is being effectively used by Haiti today, banking on the devastating effects of the earthquake in order to touch people’s heart and gain sympathies; (2) ‘geographic isolation strategy’ also called ‘destination specific’ or ‘isolation strategy’ – with the northern and southern part of Haiti not affected by the earthquake and with these parts, being developed as alternative tourist destinations for Haiti, distancing these places from Port-au-Prince – Haiti’s problematic capital may reverse the country’s negative image; or (3) ‘spinning liabilities into assets’ – Haiti actually used this strategy by transforming its gothic and violent image associated with voodoo into a ‘positive, mysterious and mystical image’ through its tourism campaign slogan: ‘Haiti, it’s Spellbinding’. (119-21) Conclusion The earthquake had obviously put Haiti’s tourism industry in a much more difficult situation destroying most of its tourism infrastructures and amenities, while further sub-standardizing those that survive the quake, making the country’s infantile economic and political stability more fragile, and creating a more negative image of the country. However, the earthquake had also opened-up greater possibilities for its tourism development. Among which are: (1) the development of Haiti’s northern and southern part as alternative destination for vacationers, while maintaining disaster tourism in Port-au-Prince, thus giving the opportunity to even up the development of tourism in the country; (2) stirring international interest and aids to help Haiti recover its economy giving priority to tourism; (3) with tourism seen as the key driver to Haiti’s development, other issues such as environmental and social issues seen significant to boost Haiti’s tourism such as reforestation, crime reduction, peace and order, and others are given serious attention. Works Cited Avraham, Eli and Ketter, Eran. “Media Strategies for Improving National Images during Tourism Cirses.” Progress in tourism marketing. Eds. Kozak, Metin and Andreu, Luisa. The Netherlands: Elsevier, 2006. Burns, Peter M. An Introduction to Tourism and Anthropology. London: Routledge, 1999. Hudman, Lloyd E. and Jackson, Richard H. Geography of Travel and Tourism. 4th ed. US: Thomson, 2003. International Crisis Group. “Haiti: Stabilisation and Reconstruction after the Quake.” Latin America/Caribbean Report. 32 (31 March 2010): 1-23. International Monetary Fund. “Haiti: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.” IMF Country Report No. 8/115. Washington, DC: IMF, 2008. Lazar, Elizabeth. “A Haitian Vacation: Tourism as Aid.” New York Post. 9 November 2010. NYP Holdings. 20 May 2011 Lies, Anne. The Earthquake in Haiti. Minnesota, USA: ABDO Publishing, 2010. Lundahl, Mats. “Economic Growth in Haiti - a Mere Illusion?” Ibero-americana 36.2 (2006): 61+. Pawlowski, A. “Before quake, signs of hope for Haiti tourism.” CNN Travel. 19 January 2010. Turner Broadcasting system. 20 May 2011 Pearce, Douglas G. “Introduction: Issues and Approaches.” Contemporary Issues in Tourism Development. Eds. D. G. Pearce and R. W. Butler. London: Routledge, 1999. Schmall, Emily. “Haiti’s Hotel Thrive amid the Earthquake Disaster’s Long Aftermath.” Daily Finance. 7 December 2010. AOL Inc. 20 May 2011 Sharpley, Richard. “Shedding Light on Dark Tourism: An Introduction.” The darker Side of Travel: The Theory and Practice of Dark Tourism. Eds. R. Sharpley and P. R. Stone. Great Britain: Short Run Press, 2009. Smets, Franz. “Haiti Counts on Tourism to Help It Rise From Devastating Earthquake.” Jakarta Globe. 29 June 2010. Berita Satu Media Holdings. 20 May 2011 Street, Anne M. Haiti 2004: A Nation in Crisis. UK: Catholic Institute for International Relations, 2004. Van Hoving, Daniel J., Wallis, Lee A., Docrat, Fathima and De Vries, Shaheem. “Haiti Disaster Tourism – A Medical Shame.” Prehospital and Disaster medicine (Special Report) 25.5 (May-June 2010): 201-2. Read More