Road and hotel constructions

“Arcotec 
Arcotec mission
Haiti S.A. is a major Haitian builder that provides building and construction related projects for

• businesses,
• organizations,
• government agencies,
• other builders and residential customers.

We construct complex projects within Haiti’s unforgiving landscape, which is prone to natural disasters.”

 Arcotec building contract
 Now the government hires Arcotec Haiti to build

• Oasis hotel
• Hotel Mont Joli in renovation
• Hotel Beck in renovation
• La Quisqueya Hotel
• The Paradise Hotel
• Road reconstruction Cap-Haitien-Milot
• Several road construction projects leading to all the touristic centers

It is a 5-year project that will prepare northern Haiti for the tourism business. In the meantime, this major construction creates jobs and helps fight poverty.  With the assistance of the national government, ten million dollars are allocated for the project.  Arcotec has a little problem getting construction permit on time.

Arcotec Haiti has already acquired license for every hotel and road construction in the entire northern region of the country.  Every construction site has engineers, architect, subcontractor and laborers busy every day at work. 

It is a very well organized project where every construction site works as a separate entity.  But at the end of the day, the head of every construction must report to the central construction management team.

The massive construction project creates some discontentment in the area.  Traffic is slow, and people don’t like that.  In some areas, traffic is rerouted to residential neighborhood, which upsets commuters and residents even more.

This major tourism project serves as a development for the entire country.  If every geographical part of the country was developing tourism like the north, Haiti would be well on its way to win the war on poverty.

Viertieres

 Defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in Haiti

Vertieres battle for independence

Vertieres is a war museum located about two miles from Cap-Haitien, the second largest city, located in the most northern tip of the island of Haiti.  This is where the Haitian indigenous troops defeated Napoleon Bonaparte army.  Tourists and researchers visit it out of historic curiosity or for their own work on a particular facet of Haitian history.

I can’t help talking about Vertieres without mentioning its historic importance and the heroes who made it what it is today.  The important people who made Viertieres are the following remarkable fighters:

• Jean-JacquesDessalines 
• ToussaintLouverture 
• Henri Christophe 
• Capois-La-mort 
• Alexandre Petion 
• Paul Prompt 
• Charles Daut, etc.

Vertieres had seen the fiercest battle of independence fought between the indigenous troops and the French.  As troops on both sides fought and died, some Haitian fighters were recognized for their bravery and their stern resistance.  Capois-La-Mort braved death so many times that two things happened: he was renamed Capois-La-Mort and his famous historic slogan is “bullets are nothing but dust.” 

The top two war heroes are Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Toussaint Louverture of whom I will talk about individually in separate blog posts.  Those two are the heroes of all heroes.  They are themselves Haiti in its entirety.  Alexandre Petion, a mulatto, often switches sides between the indigenous and the French troops, but at the end he became one of great fighters in the ranks of the Haitian fighters. 

Northern Haiti is good for tourism because it is considered the cradle of the Haitian history.  Most of the war fighters and leaders are from the area.  All the historic sites that draw tourists to northern Haiti are the ingenuity of them, for instance the fortress of the Citadelle, which is the work of King Henri Christophe.

Labadee

About Labadee, Haiti
Details and location

Labadee is a seaside community of Cap-Haitien in northern Haiti. It is located at the foot of Picolet mountain and right in the backyard of Haiti second largest and historic city of Cap-Haitien.  It is surrounded with corral reef and embellished with one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. 

Developed in the last 25 years, Labadee represents one of the world most visited tourist locations in the Caribbean.  What once was a rural area is now converted into resort hotels, shops, boutique, sightseeing, park and recreation and amusement center, etc.

Labadee is a gateway to many places in the Caribbean and the Americas.   It has become a central tourist destination before a cruise ship reaches any set destination.  Once in Labadee, tourists got so fascinated with its beauty and its charm that it is easy to forget that they are in Haiti. 

Labadee is a paradise on earth, which gives the illusion that it is not Haiti or a part of it because Haiti is known as a poor and underdeveloped country.  It is a fact, and I must add that I wish the entire island was as developed as Labadee.

Labadee is not freely open to the Haitian public.  The last time I visited it was in 2003.  The entrance fee was $30 then.  From I heard, today it is either a high entrance fee in US currency or it is closed to the Haitian public in general.  This link will take you to the topography of Haiti.

Describing Labadee is not enough to put it in the right perspective; one has to be there and see for oneself.  It is a fantastic place to visit and to revisit because it renews itself every time a tourist visits it. Here is more sightseeing in Labadee.

Preparations for tourism in northern Haiti

The city of Cap-Haitien

Making an area ready for tourism requires all kinds of preparations: 

• hotels, 
• the infrastructure, 
• the sites, 
• souvenir shops 
• and all the businesses that are involved in the tourism industry have to meet some legal norms.

Preparations for tourism environment
northern Haiti

Haiti highways are often neglected.  As a result, streets and major roads contain potholes.  Now the tourism industry must work in collaboration with the local government to provide funds for road repair.  It’s a long-term investment that has a long-term benefit.  The repaired road and streets will also facilitate commerce and free movement of traffic, commerce and locals.

The renovation of the attraction centers has a crucial importance.  Every site must reflect a tourist-like environment: decoration, monuments, painting and shops, etc.  The sites must be equipped with everything that is appealing and fascinating to tourists.

Tourists like to buy souvenirs from the country they visit to bring to their loved ones.  For example, museum, woven materials, mahogany and carved objects were some of the common items sold in the 70s and 80s that tourists usually purchased a lot.  Those items will be part of these new souvenir shops. Tourism venues in Haiti, then, are similar to those of Egypt Pyramid today.

With tourism come all kinds of businesses: vendors selling their products; retailers, guides, entrepreneurs, taxi drivers, hotels and everything else.  They must all comply with the laws of the tourism industry and of the state.  A specific location is assigned to each type of business; the rules governing how they do business must be respected.

Preparations are the first steps in having a successful tourism industry.  By implementing all the set regulations, northern Haiti will be well on its way of reliving the past touristic era of the 70s and 80s.

Things to see and do in northern Haiti

Northern Haiti is partly flat and partly mountainous.  Once in the mountain, it offers a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding areas.  It is an area that is rich in beauty, history and in sightseeings. 

Tourist attraction sites in northern Haiti are numerous:

• LabadeeLa Citadelle
• Cathedrale Notre Dame de Cap Haitien
• National History Park - Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers 
• Cathedrale de Milot 
• Mont Joli Hotel
• Vertieres

What makes northern Haiti special for tourism is the birthplace of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Toussaint Louverture, Capois-La Mort and the adoptive place of king Henri Christophe.  Those names are associated with fame.  They have made history at the international scale. 

Tourist locations like Sans souci palace, Milot Cathedrale, Vertieres and the Citadelle would not be historical monuments that draw tourists, had it not been for their heroism. Haitians are known to be quite hospitable to foreigners.  They are very friendly and ready to help with directions or sightseeing locations, etc. 

While in Haiti, there are always a lot of things one can do:

•  Sights & Landmarks 
•  Outdoor Activities
•  Tours & Activities 
•   Nature & Parks                                  
• Museums 
•  Shopping
•  Boat Tours & Water Sports
•  Fun & Games
•  Food & Drink
• Spas and Wellness

In the past, northern tourism blossomed.  I hope someone could use the idea of this blog to make it happen.  I also hope that tourists who pick the best attraction sites to maximize their chance of enjoyment and more things to see and do in the Caribbean island can visit this site:

Tourism in the 70s and the 80s in northern Haiti

                                                          

Tourists in Labadee, northern Haiti

Tourism implies touring or traveling from point A to point B with a purpose.   

• Tourists travel by sea or airplane to other countries in search of fun 
• and for the experience of new discoveries. 
• It could be national and international.  It’s a big business for developed countries 
• and a source of funding and development for even developed countries,  i.e.,
• the United States or European countries. 

Benefits of tourism in northern Haiti
city of Cap-Haitien

Any third-world country depends on tourism to stabilize its economy.  Haiti, as the poorest country in the American sphere, has a more crucial need for tourism.  Haiti’s economy is in a dire situation, not only because of corrupt leaders, but also because of the lack of tourism or its non-existence in the country.

Northern Haiti’s tourism was a booming business in the 70s and the 80s.  The city of Cap-Haitien depended on it for its survival.  Several taxi companies lined up the street adjacent to the dock; each one waited for its turn for a fare. 

Tour guides, dressed in their fancy uniforms, couldn’t wait to escort their guests to their locations.  Their job consisted of informing tourists about the culture, safety, weather and everything in general.  They were also ready to answer any questions pertinent to the local situation.

An open market full of hand-made items decorated the street alongside the dock and the street parallel to it. Merchandise was plentiful, and the tourists are fascinated by the view of splendid items like mahogany, painting and various wood-made objects, etc.  It was tempting, and the tourists couldn’t resist bargaining with the vendors. 

Unfortunately, mismanagement, violence and political instability derailed the tourism industry in Haiti.  If this blog could help bring back tourism in northern Haiti, I would realize that my effort is worthwhile.  This link will provide you with more details of ships docked in northern Haiti in the 70s and 80s ---

About Me

Hubert Odias

Profile
My name is Hubert Odias, and this blog is about tourism in northern Haiti.  My hometown is part of the vast northern region of Haiti.  As a journalism student at Florida Atlantic University, I am learning about blogging this semester.  Therefore, writing a blog, which is a big chunk of the class grade, is my assignment for this spring semester.

Why I choose northern Haiti

To complete this project, the class professor, Ms. Bonnie, asks every student to pick a topic of interest.  Automatically, I have decided to write this blog about tourism in Haiti.  It is a class project, I understand.  It may seem fictitious or imaginary to the audience; but it is something I wish I could materialize in the real world.  I envision the good that a tourism industry in northern Haiti would have done.  It’s not a fantasy, but trying to relive a reality that once existed.

Past tourism benefits northern Haiti

In the 70s and 80s, northern Haiti was a frequent tourist destination.  In my youth, cruise ships like Skyward and Boheme and others brought thousands of tourists to the city of Cap-Haitien. I witnessed then the benefits of tourism in the northern region of Haiti, especially in a poor country like Haiti.  Northern Haiti at that time was prosperous.  This is the reality I am reliving as if I am about to make it happen for real.  It is a way of expressing love for my country and a strong desire to contribute even through a university project.

I am novice in blogging.  I hope after this spring semester, I learn enough skills to excel in it.  With two classes left to graduate, I can’t wait to start knocking on doors of opportunity like Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, New York Times

Blog Mission

My blog is about bolstering tourism in the northern city of Cap-Haitien and its surrounding areas.  It is a region of the country that is rich in history and sightseeing. Labadee is already a major tourist destination, and the Citadelle to some degree.  My goal is to lure tourists to visit northern Haiti. 

The tourism industry has provided a guide with information and attraction, which include the following:

• weather essentials, 
• maps, 
• hotel locations, 
• and safety measures, etc.

With tourism come money, job opportunities and development.  It’s more like a give-and-take situation, an exchange of tourism services for cash that creates development opportunities in the country.  This undertaking will certainly be a source of jobs and new opportunities for vendors, and all the businesses in the surrounding area will be able to thrive. 

​Poverty affects a large part of the population.  This project is aimed at making a difference in the lives of the locals and in the entire northern Haiti.  The other key aspect of this blog is that I am inviting everyone to come in large number to visit northern Haiti to enjoy history and the beauty of the land with the goal of returning to this Caribbean paradise for more fun.  Talking of fun, here is one place where someone can have a very good time.