Haiti Launches New Tourism Campaign

You have to be kidding – Haiti has just launched a new tourism campaign.

Haiti is mired in years of political crisis that has generated widespread gang violence with thousands of murders and kidnappings and more than 580,000 people displaced, more than half of them women and children, according to a United Nations report.

Tourism is not a solution when residents are afraid to leave their homes for food, children don’t leave their homes to go to school, a UN-backed police force from Kenya has just arrived to try to restore peace and normalcy.

The US Dept. of State has put Haiti on its Level 4 – Do Not Travel list, joining such other tourism meccas as Russia, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and Myanmmar/Burma.

And yet Haiti is launching a new tourism campaign, eliminating Visa requirements for nearly 200 countries, to make it easier to visit. You have to be kidding.

Yes, the Caribbean nation is rich in culture, including Carnival and Voodoo.

And the history of being the first Haiti became the world’s first black-led republic and the first independent Caribbean state when it threw off French colonial control and slavery in the early 19th Century.

And an abundance of beautiful, unspoiled beaches.

But visa-free entry to travelers from 184 countries including Germany, Argentina, United States, South Korea and Canada won’t help until it’s safe to travel there.

In part, because there are limited flights to Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s troubled and violent capital, or to Cap Haitien on the other side of the island. Delta discontinued flights to Haiti in 2020.

Even cruise lines with private high-level security at their private oceanside enclaves have bailed, at least until the situation improves.

But primarily because of outright dangerous conditions in many parts of the country, including the capital city Port-au-Prince.

Haiti launches new tourism campaign_ecoxplorer — Unsplash photo of Abaka Bay and Resort, Haiti

Haiti’s New Visa-Free Entry Policy

Regular passport holders from 184 countries visiting Haiti for tourism no longer require a visa, and will be granted permission for short-term stay on arrival.

This policy aims to attract European tourists, who typically have high spending power and stay longer.

Schengen Area Countries: Travelers from Schengen countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, can enter Haiti without a visa for short stays.

Latin American Countries: Neighboring countries in Latin America, such as Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina, enjoy visa-free access to Haiti. This promotes regional tourism and strengthens economic ties within the region.

North American Countries: Citizens of the United States and Canada can also enter Haiti without a visa, a move expected to draw a significant number of tourists from these nations who are known for their considerable travel expenditure.

Other Select Nations: Additionally, countries like Japan, South Korea and Israel also get visa-free entry.

Tourist Arrivals and Economic Impact

According to the trade publication Travel and Tour World, the Haitian Ministry of Tourism claims it welcomed approximately 500,000 tourists in 2023, a significant rise compared to previous years, attributed to the easier access provided by the new visa regulations.

Although many of those visitors may have been foreign aid workers for the charities and non-profits providing relief to the country – including young two American missionaries kidnapped and murdered in May 2024.

The trade magazine article also claims high-end hotels and boutique accommodations are being developed throughout the country for this surge in visitors, and existing hotels and hotels and inns are reporting “near-full bookings during peak tourist seasons.”

The article also reports that Haiti’s ports, particularly in Labadee and Cap-Haïtien, are being upgraded to handle larger cruise ships – this while the only international cruise line to visit Haiti, Royal Caribbean, has cancelled visits to its private resort in Labadee for the forseeable future, at least until the unstable and dangerous situation in Haiti improves.

Air Travel and Connectivity

The Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince was closed briefly in May 2024 by gang warfare, but flights there and to Cap-Haïtien International Airport have resumed again. US-flag carriers including American, JetBlue and Spirit fly to Haiti from various US cities.

If you want to know more about visiting Haiti, check the official tourism website, VisitHaiti.com, which also offers a newsletter you can sign up for, including learning about Voodoo, Carnival and other attractions.

I’ll wait to visit until it’s safe – and the US Dept. of State removes Haiti from its list of Level 4 Do Not Visit countries.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.