Haiti tourism company Belle Vue Tours is out to promote Haiti…its cuisine, its beaches, but in particular its history. The company’s founders created what they term the Christophienne Tour—which is a six-days-five nights excursions series centered around the life of Grenada-born Henri Christophe, who became king of Haiti in 1811. According to historical accounts, Henri made the former Cap Francais (now Cap Haitien) the capital of his kingdom, and this is where Belle Vue Tours brings its tourism clients. For four to five hours, Haiti tourists are escorted around Cap Haitien, and the tour includes stops at the National History Park, Citadel Henry (also called Citadel Laferriere), and the San Souci Palace, Henri Christophe’s once sprawling palace. BV Tours clients interested in historical artifacts also view 18th century artillery from France, England, Spain, and Italy purchased by the king in case a European power approached the island.

Money from 19th Century Haiti….

Here are some chains and shackles.

They are to be found at Norman’s Place in Labadie.

And this is a church…Cathedrale Immaculee Concepcion is its name.

According to the Belle Vue Tours staff, it was first erected in 1670 and is considered one of Haiti’s oldest churches.

Of course one can only take so much history before one gets hungry!

Belle Vue Tours treats clients to some scrumptious cuisine.

While Cap Haitien is at the center of Belle Vue Tours’ sites, other under represented cities in Haiti also get some deserved attention.

According to the historian Nicolas Leger, the city of Hinche was the center of a great many rebellions during the U.S. Occupation of Haiti in the 1910s.

Belle Vue Tours educates its clients about Jacmel, the city where many South American revolutionaries sought aide during the early 1810s.

Below is an interesteing view of King Henri Christophe’s Citadel…

…from Site Fortifie de Ramiers.

CLICK HERE FOR BELLE VUE TOURS’ INSTAGRAM PAGE | BELLE VUE TOURS TWITTER PAGE| FACEBOOK

Davidson Toussaint is succeeding where some thought he never would: in the Haiti tourism business. With Haiti Tourism Inc, the company he founded in 2011, Toussaint and his team of three (Yendy Cave, Marketing Director; Jacob Gay, Director of Public Relations; Mireille Toussaint, Vice President) pound the pavement daily, in search of new methods to market Haiti to the world.

And they don’t miss one arena. On social media networks like Facebook and Twitter, the Haiti Tourism Inc team is tireless, constantly sharing beautiful images of Haiti, and posting updates about positive developments regarding Haiti. On the company’s website, Haiti’s praises are sung endlessly. But Haiti Tourism Inc doesn’t just gush about Haiti online and call it a day; its members go out in the field to add substance to virtual claims. Haiti Tourism Inc regularly sponsors cultural activities and the company holds Haiti-themed excursions to help others discover the country’s underrated, and under-visited destinations. Haiti Tourism Inc team members attend trade fairs, conferences, and even pageants, to help spread the word about Haiti’s splendor.

Working from his office in Tampa, Florida, Davidson Toussaint wouldn’t want it any other way. He and his team plan to go at it for a long time, until he feels that Haiti has regained its place as a popular destination in the Caribbean. And even beyond that point.

Davidson Toussaint, Yendy Cave, Jacob Gay, and Mireille Toussaint gave us the low-down regarding the activities of Haiti Tourism Inc.

Q & A

How did Haiti Tourism Inc came to be conceptualized?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: First and foremost, thank you for giving me this great opportunity to talk about Haiti Tourism Inc, a company that I truly love. Now, the concept of highlighting Haiti, her beauty, and her potentials to the world took place in the Dominican Republic. While a student at PUCMM—Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra—I became tired of hearing people spewing negative stereotypes about Haiti and her image. I felt like I can do something to give Haiti a voice where I was at. I chose to be a catalyst of change. Indeed, while our dear country is termed ‘poor’ according to outsiders, it is rich in beauty and its potentials are limitless. With that mindset, I created a tour program for foreign students to expose the beauty and potentials of Haiti. Our first tour took place in 2007. It was a success. I named it Haitours. Eventually, I left the Dominican Republic for the United States. Seeing a greater need to expose more people to Haiti’s beauty and potentials, Haiti Tourism Inc came to existence with the vision of highlighting Haiti’s beauty and potentials to the world.

Was the response you got when you first presented the idea to others favorable?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: The idea was favorable, theoretically speaking. Let me elaborate further, starting any business or organization is not easy. The ideas might be good, or great to some, but the actual work of launching that business or organization can be overwhelming. Sometimes you have to go against the naysayers and the doubters, bypassing them and keep pushing on for in your mind you envision a better Haiti and you want people to buy in as easily. At the same time, you realize you can’t convince everyone, so you build relationships with people who believe in the vision. Gradually, people began to understand the vision. Haiti Tourism Inc is not just about bringing tourists to Haiti; it is so much more. Now, we have a platform to show the potentials of the country; to show its beauty; to share our cultures to the world. We are exposing Haiti to the world and Haiti Tourism Inc. is doing its part with all of our resources.

What motivated you to become a part of Haiti Tourism Inc?
YENDY CAVE: I am a very country-oriented person. I always wanted to work for my country, do something different, stand out, and really help by my actions, and not simply words. When Davidson introduced me to the project, it seemed as if God had sent this to me as a mission, and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of it. I did not hesitate and barged in right away. It was for me an honor to be able to make a change for Haiti. The best part was that I would be doing something I love and something that would give me more experience in my domain. I am majoring in advertising and public relations with a minor in marketing. When Davidson approached me, it was to be the marketing director for Haiti Tourism Inc and I fit perfectly. I am so glad to be a part of this great organization and we are working hard to help developing tourism in Haiti

How did you become part of the Haiti Tourism Inc family?
JACOB GAY: I’m glad you refer to Haiti Tourism Inc as a family because I believe it is a family. I have known Davidson and his wife for some years. As my colleague, he approached me, explained me his vision and asked me if I would join this great endeavor. The timing was perfect for I had just obtained my Masters in Business Administration and was looking for such an organization to help with the skills I had just acquired. Then I was fortunate to meet Yendy through Davidson. I was elated to find out she was attending the same school I attended for my Bachelor of Arts as an undergrad. We continue to work as best as we can to promote the initiatives, goals and objectives of Haiti Tourism Inc while solidifying our commitment to see Haiti regain its moniker as the ‘Jewel of the Islands’.

In his book Stars Over Haiti, Anthony Hattenbach whose mother Muriel Shindler owned one of the biggest beach site resort s in Haiti in the 1970s in Haiti, recounts how each week three ships of tourists would land in Haiti, definitely a mass contrast to today. Do you think Haiti can regain this degree of popularity again with tourists?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: Yes, I think and believe so. I don’t want to sound as naïve with my answer. Haiti like many other countries in the Caribbean has the natural advantage to be a world touristic destination. The same great beaches and historical places people used to visit in the 1970s are still there. The hospitality and tourism industry is growing rapidly. It is a Billion dollars industry and I envision it reaching the stratosphere. With a company like Haiti Tourism Inc., we can set a new precedent with our approaches. Our strategies should be are as follow: Identify locations that are favorable for touristic destinations, develop them organically—highlighting things specific to that location, educate the people in key performance indicators, ensure, enforce, and promote security; lastly committed to the development and growth of the location by getting everyone involved. After all, there is not only just strength in unity but also prosperity, and a sense of togetherness.

David Toussaint(far left), the CEO of Haiti Tourism Inc, presides at a meeting with staff members and they are: Yendy Cave, Haiti Tourism Inc’s Director of Marketing (to his right); Haiti Tourism’s former Director of International Relations (sitting at the head of conference table) Haiti Tourism Inc Vice President Mireille Toussaint (in purple).

As Vice President of the company, what void do you think Haiti Tourism Inc fills?
MIREILLE TOUSSAINT: Haiti Tourism Inc envisions itself as the bridge between the world and Haiti. We seek to highlight the true potentials of Haiti through our positive social media platforms and in our website. This is the void that I believe we are filling: projecting Haiti in a new light unto the world.

What are some of the challenges that come with running a business like Haiti Tourism Inc?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: There are many challenges in running a business in general, but these challenges taught me valuable life experiences thus far. Besides the tedious relevancy associated with the cost of running a business, and logistics, I would like to go in detail with one of my greatest challenges. Haiti Tourism Inc. is not a sole proprietorship and we needed like-minded individuals to be part of the company. Some of them are friends, while others are acquaintances and business partners. The challenges with running an enterprise with friends posed many risks. Some decisions to be made are business decisions and not personal. Because of that, everyone in the team had to understand that this is a legitimate business and has dire consequences if the right business decision is not followed. We have had to sacrifice personal relationships but not to the detriment of our friendships. Our friendships will always be intact, but at the end of the day, if everyone contributes unequivocally—albeit personal feelings aside—we believe that Haiti Tourism Inc, will be a viable entity.

What words would you use to describe running your company?
MIREILLE TOUSSAINT: Fun. Delight. Passion. Involved. Guidance. Fruition. Reward. Happy.

How do you think Haiti looks to the rest of the world right now?
YENDY CAVE: To be honest, in general Haiti has never been seen in a great way from the rest of the world. We cannot blame them because the media usually only shows the bad that is happening to us. Although it is their job, it promotes us in an awful way, and people tend to be afraid to visit Haiti. They seem to have this horrible image and to them, Haiti is one of the most insecure and terrible places in the world. However, lately, many people have engaged themselves as to show the world the hidden side of Haiti. That is exactly our mission in Haiti Tourism Inc. Throughout, the help of the media and many Haitians who have engaged themselves to help us reach out to the world and show them what Haiti is in our eyes, the vision of Haiti has changed a lot in my opinion. It will take a while for people to be convinced that it is safe to come, and that Haiti is not only about poverty and insecurity. But I believe that with will and hard work, we will get there.

How are people responding to the efforts of your team? In Haiti, for example—as well as elsewhere?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: The responses have been positive for the most part, but we also have encountered doubters who didn’t believe that what we were and are doing is benefiting Haiti as a whole. Nonetheless, we are been encouraged to continue with the many positive responses we’ve received in Haiti, and elsewhere. We have had the opportunity to visit different countries—from different states in the USA to Japan. We are truly humbled and grateful from the support of people around the world. These people are sharing, liking, and twitting our activities in the social networks. The reception has been incredible. We reached more than 8 million people in more than 90 countries around the world. It is worth to mention that we wouldn’t be where we are without tireless work from our great team. I’m grateful to be able to work with such a diverse of great young Haitian talents.

What public relations milestone have you experienced since coming on board as PR?
JACOB GAY: Seeing people’s perceptions and viewpoints about Haiti’s changing positively is truly a gem. I take great comfort knowing that my endeavors on behalf of Haiti Tourism inc is shaping people’s perceptions. Also, seeing the medias and other entities seek out our company for a reference, or for a story about Haiti is gratifying to the works that we are doing. Nevertheless, we are not done because this team believes in the vision that our CEO established since our foundation.

Companies like Haiti Tourism Inc are doing a great deal in changing how Haiti is viewed in the international community. What more do you think can be done to help your mission along?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: Thank you for noticing, as well as the compliment. Sincerely, we couldn’t have accomplished these without your ardent support. Our mission is ingrained in our vision to be the purveyor of everything good coming out of Haiti. We make it our duty by choice to project Haiti in a positive fashion. We choose to educate the world about the beauty and potentials of our country, Haiti, through the positive things we align ourselves with. However, there are much more to be done. We need a coalition of people to continue to trot this movement forward. We need everyone to highlight Haiti for her beauty and her potentials. We are aware that Haiti is a work in progress, a country in transition. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to continue educate the world about the potentials that I see and advocate for dearly.

What’s an ordinary day like for the Haiti Tourism Inc team?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: [Laughter] There’s no such thing as an ordinary day for our team. Kidding aside, we plan our work and we work the plan. This company is dear to our hearts, it is a privilege to do something we like and enjoy. We have a dedicated team who know their crafts and are always busy at creating ideas to put us at the forefront of highlighting Haiti’s potentials and beauty.

Anything about your past background that made starting Haiti Tourism Inc especially easier?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: Growing up as a Boy Scout has allowed me to visit many cities and departments in Haiti. As a result, I developed a keen interest in discovering my country. Ultimately, the experiences I’ve had seeing the many beautiful places in Haiti made it easier for me to start Haiti Tourism Inc. I have seen the many picturesque locations throughout and I want to impress these same experiences on others; natural visuals that I know people will cherish forever. This is why I advocate passionately about not only to make Haiti part of your travel destinations but to also invest in the country’s development logistically, financially, and culturally.

As the person in charge of PR for Haiti Tourism Inc, what are your primary objectives?
JACOB GAY: With this being a young company, sometimes we find ourselves doing many tasks across the board. But, my primary objective is to help carve out a professional image of our company. I do this by constantly writing, reviewing, and editing memos, and other writings the company put out to the public. I also serve as a sound board for ideas that showcase our work to the public.

What advice would you give to others who are looking to start a career in hospitality, travel and tourism based on what you have learned in your own journey?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: You have to pursue your heart’s passion. It is so much easier to do something when your heart is in it. Moreover, you will need to sacrifice certain things in order to see your dream realized. Not all of us studied in the field of hospitality, travel, and tourism, so you will need to devote yourself to learn about it and learn from others. There are people out there who have a plethora of knowledge and expertise on these fields of study. You just have to learn and surround yourself with not only these people but also others who share in your vision and commitment.

In five years, where do you see Haiti Tourism Inc heading as a company?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: Initially, we started as a tour operator that not only focused on excursions, but in highlighting the potentials of Haiti through our diverse activities. These activities continue in operating our excursions but we have evolved into more of an entity that project the beauty of our dear country with all of our resources to the world. We have participated in events from Haiti, Miami to Japan, and elsewhere. These many activities fall under the umbrella in which we want to operate. We have partnered with individuals, other companies, and organizations to promote Haiti to the fullest. So in five years, continue to see us extend our excursion packages to be more inclusive, but also expect us to play a central role in working together with like-minded people or companies that are committed in seeing Haiti reclaim its moniker as the ‘Jewel of the islands’.

Why do you think that Haiti receives bad press for occurrences that are happening in other parts of the world that are themselves top tourist destinations?
JACOB GAY: It is all about perception and pre-conceived notions of and about Haiti. For so long all we’ve read has been negative news about our country. This is why a company like Haiti Tourism is effective in directing the narratives. No longer are people solely looking at the media for their narratives. We take it upon ourselves to open people’s eyes about what Haiti is through our social networks, our websites and events. We remain relentless in promoting the positive sides of Haiti, no matter what. In the end, we know we can’t control pre-conceived notions and stereotypes, but we choose to highlight Haiti as best as possible. After all, it is our dear country.

What’s the best thing about being an entrepreneur?
DAVIDSON TOUSSAINT: There are so many valuable things about being an entrepreneur. For me, the idea of using one’s creative ability to start a legacy is thrilling and inspiring. Along the way, you have the opportunities to meet pioneers, connect with great individuals, as well as overcoming challenges. Knowing that what I do and love can influence a community, a country, and the world is what motivates me to move forward on a daily basis. Lastly, thank you again for giving me this platform to share myself with your audience all over the world. I truly appreciate you. Have a blessed day.

Any other thoughts?
MIREILLE TOUSSAINT: I am just elated to have had this platform to share my thoughts with the world. I thank you again for this opportunity. I have high hope for our dear country and I truly believe in her potentials. My work will not be done until I see Haiti reclaim her moniker as the ‘Jewel of the Caribbean’.

YENDY CAVE: If I were to give any thoughts, it would be firstly to everyone out there, to tell them that Haiti IS beautiful, Haiti IS special, and they can only discover it by giving it a try and i can promise, they will not be disappointed. My other message would be for my fellow Haitians. Help promote Haiti as much as you can, because each word and each action is necessary to help the country move forward. Promoting Haiti’s beauty, talking about its magnificent monuments, telling the world how amazing this place is to you, can and will make a difference. Be proud and show it.

Can Haiti’s tourism get its groove back? For Dina Simon of My Haiti Travels (MHT Global, LLC), that is the goal, and she won’t relent until Haiti’s tourism gets its groove back, and gets it back again and again. She’s among many entrepreneurs who are recognizing the need to revitalize Haiti’s tourism industry and are using their business acumen to lend a capable hand in increasing the flow of tourists to the country.

Simon’s firm, which she founded in 2012, was conceptualized with the sole intention of drawing pleasure-seeking tourists and well as luxury travelers to Haiti.

Born in Haiti, the entrepreneur immigrated to the United States when she was nine years old, settling in Brooklyn with her family, before moving on up to Long Island during her high school years. Very much goal-oriented throughout her life, she enrolled in college and earned her Bachelor’s degree, and eventually a Master’s, landing herself a plump position at a New York city agency as a public servant.

The Senior Manager roles she has held really prepared Simon for the mechanics of successfully running her own company. My Haiti Travels is fresh off one of its first excursion to Haiti—the Impact Week Haiti tour—in which Simon guided more than a dozens to breathtaking sites all over Haiti. It was important to her that these tourists saw Haiti in a new light—a positive light, and to make them repeat visitors of Haiti’s destinations. The My Haiti Travels tour took the travelers, ranging from executives to a preteen to hotspots in Port-au-Prince.

Simon goes all out in promoting Haiti as well as her company, hiring Daphne Leroy, of DML Media Group, to vigorously publicize her venture, and her objectives. My Haiti Travels has a strong and consistent presence on social media networks.

Simon has launched a newsletter which has a subscriber count of 600 and counting. When she’s not hard at work brainstorming new ways to usher tourists to Haiti and sell Haiti’s countless charms to them, Simon is busily drawing up proposals for new business partnerships that are designed to propel My Haiti Travels Global ahead in the Haiti traveling game.

Q & A

How would you sum up your company?
My company is a boutique concierge firm that coordinates high-quality travel services to Haiti for leisure and business purposes. Our representatives liaise with hotel and resort establishments, restaurants, and professional tour guides to provide unique experiences tailored to each client’s specific needs, lifestyle, and budget. At My Haiti Travels, we believe the best way to support Haiti is to visit, support local businesses, and give back directly to the people in need through volunteerism. Our goal is for all friends of Haiti to truly experience and enjoy the real Ayiti and all its glory.

How did the idea for your company come about?
The idea for My Haiti Travels was formed after organizing a trip to Haiti for a couple of friends. I could not find a reliable source that provided me information on where to stay, where to eat and what to do; when I did find information it was outdated. I had been to Haiti months prior and knew there were restaurants, bars, resorts, beautiful beaches, spas, and even a hookah bar. I was shocked that those things were not prominently showcased anywhere. Once I was able to secure the right services while in Haiti, my friends and I had the best experience ever.

When I came back to New York, I envisioned creating a service that had a directory of places in Haiti, but with reviews and ratings, similar to Yelp. I wanted people to have information and to help them make informed decisions about where to spend their money. At My Haiti Travels, we believe that if you frequent an establishment and spend your money you should get good service—even in Haiti. Businesses survive because of their customers.

Another vision we had for My Haiti Travels was to make it easy for you to travel to Haiti. A lot of people we spoke to didn’t visit Haiti because they didn’t know where to start, where to stay or where to eat. Haiti is a foreign place to many of us. At My Haiti Travels, you tell us how you want to spend your time and we’ll arrange it. We work with your budget, and build your itinerary on what works for you; after all it is your time.

What sort of challenges do you encounter in running your firm?
The biggest challenge in running my firm is balancing time. I have a full-time day job so there’s never enough time in the day to accomplish everything with my business. Since we’re a start-up, there is not a big budget to hire staff so we rely on volunteers. Without a dedicated staff at the end of the day all the balls drop in my court. Hopefully that will change soon but until then it’s a constant sacrifice—late nights and weekends, less time with family and friends but in the long run it will be worth it.

Now, in terms of running a travel and tourism agency targeted towards a country that’s stigmatized and that’s been portrayed negatively in the media—-how do you handle that?
We have to tell Haiti’s story, past, present and future. We’re all very much aware of Haiti’s challenges. I don’t think any one of us can ever deny them. However, the time has come for us to take a different path and do something new. Our President Michel Martelly has said “Haiti is too rich to be poor,” and he’s right. I’m not just talking about material wealth. I’m talking about things you can’t put a price on.

I also think we as a people need to do a better job about the image we present to others about Haiti. When I meet people and I tell them about Haiti and they see my pictures they are surprised. Most of them tell me their perception of Haiti is from Haitian-Americans who have never visited or it’s been decades since they’ve been to Haiti.

Since the perception of Haiti is one of my biggest challenges, My Haiti Travels constantly educates people by showing the different sides of Haiti. Through our newsletter titled “See Haiti Through Our Eyes,” we try to change perception by focusing on the positive, but not ignoring the struggle. We believe that people should visit Haiti themselves before they form an opinion.

Haiti’s tourism boom peaked in the 40s, then the 1950s, then in the 1970s and 1980s. Do you think it will regain its footing in the tourism industry?
Absolutely, Haiti is currently in the process of a tourism boom. There’s a lot of building, plans for hotels and restaurants, training for the tourism sector, and investment in infrastructure. A lot of people are organizing tours to Haiti. There’s adventure travel, volunteer travel, and there’s a combination of both.

Simon poses with her traveling clients. Photo: Sebastian Narcisse, My Haiti Travels

The first five-star hotel was inaugurated in Haiti about [in December] and there’s encouraging news about the tourism sector. I believe travelers are looking for a different type of vacation as the days where people are confined to a resort are gone. Haiti offers a mixture for people who want adventure, authenticity, and want to discover culture and history.

If you were counseling aspiring entrepreneurs, what would you tell them about your journey?
I would advise them to have a plan and to be flexible. You must be willing to adjust your plan based on internal and external factors. I would advise aspiring entrepreneurs to align themselves with people who share and support their vision. Until you have the support from someone who believes in what you’re doing, it’s hard to get off the ground. You need someone who’s willing to get in the trenches with you, sees your vision and can serve as an advocate for you.

Finally, I would say believe in it. If you don’t believe in it, no one else will. When I talk to people about Haiti, they tell me they see my passion for Haiti. The thing is I’m only telling my story, my experiences. Once you believe in it, it’s easy for someone else to do the same.

Throughout this journey, my proudest moment has been booking two people who have not been back to Haiti in over 30 years. I cannot wait to capture the moment they step off the plane, as they get re-introduced to their country. That’s what My Haiti Travels is about, that’s our vision – “See Haiti Through Our Eyes.”

Any last words?
Kat, thank you for giving me this opportunity. From the beginning of this journey, you have been a major inspiration for me. Thank you for all your tips, and for educating me about Haiti through Kreyolicious Magazine. What you are doing is necessary for us as a people, a culture, and a country. Please continue to educate us on all things Haiti. Thank you to all who believed in the My Haiti Travels vision for Impact Week Haiti 2013, including our media partners BelTiFi, Kiskeacity, Manman Pemba, Haitian-AllStarz, Haiti 1 Stop, HaitiXChange, Radio Soleil, and the Stewardship Report. There are a lot of amazing entrepreneurs and organizations supporting Haiti daily via diverse platforms, so let’s continue to support them. Haiti needs us. We can’t do it alone. We owe it to each other. We owe it to those who came before us. We owe it to Ayiti. L’union fait la force.

There’s no other way to put it: when Dina Simon launched her firm MyHaitiTravels Global, LLC in 2013, she stepped out on faith. Simon had an impressive and long-running career as a civil servant, but always wanted to start her own travel and tours business with Haiti as a destination. But the country was still experiencing disaster vertigo from an earthquake three years before. Could her concept work? From the success that Simon has enjoyed in her first year of business, the answer to that question is a loud and firm, “Yes”. Two trips and counting with Haitians and non-Haitians discovering and rediscovering the country, MyHaitiTravels has become more than a business venture for Simon. It’s been an outlet to show others—as well as herself—a Haiti beyond Port-au-Prince, a Haiti more beautiful than a Google Image search could ever fathom.

MyHaitiTravels is a year old. What have you learned regarding Haiti through this venture?

Haiti is complex and I’m still trying to better understand her. Yet, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

What are some the hardest-hitting lessons you’ve learned regarding entrepreneurship and owning a travel and tourism business your first year of business?

Don’t rely on anyone for your success. Take a lot of risks. Last year when we planned our first annual tour we had no idea how it would turn out. We did not meet our goal, but we knew we had a good formula so we made some tweaks. We learned how to better position our message and how to engage our potential clients across all platforms.

What are your thoughts on the current state of Haiti’s tourism industry?

Haiti’s tourism industry has tremendous potential. We’re starting to hear and see more positive things about Haiti and we have a government that is highly engaged in making tourism a success. My company is doing a tremendous job in showcasing Haiti as well as securing key partnerships to enable more people to see Ayiti through our eyes. Haiti is rebuilding its tourism industry by investing in infrastructure, training, and ensuring that tourism is sustainable. I’m very excited about that. There are also a lot of individuals working on behalf of Haiti to make sure that the tourism industry becomes successful for the people of Haiti.

I think a lot of people reading your story will become really inspired. Here is this professional woman, who left Haiti when she was about nine, and who returns to create a travel tour firm built around it.

Well, I feel it’s simply my duty as a Haitian person educated in the United States to no longer be a bystander but to actually be proactive in finding a way to do something to advance Haiti and benefit Haitians, specifically the youth. During our last tour this past January, we had a “Real Talk” forum at a school with some 9th grade students on our volunteer Project Day. We were supposed to tell them about our careers and answer any questions that they had. One young lady stood up and asked “How do you keep going. How do you maintain hope?” Her question shook us, because no child should have to ask that. Hope shouldn’t be a concern at fourteen years old. So, when I think about what I’m doing, it’s not worthy of praise. Those kids sitting in the classrooms trying to learn despite their circumstances is an inspiration. The machann waking up at 5 a.m to set up her stand to sell her merchandise so she can send her kids to school is an inspiration.

Dina Simon flanked by tourists on her ImpactWeek tour in front of a hotel in Petionville.

If you were to give readers advice about establishing their own business, what would you tell them?

Make sure you are passionate about your venture. You are your biggest cheerleader. Have a good team and people who believe in you and what you are doing. Be prepared to financially invest in your business. Find a successful entrepreneur whose experience and knowledge can help you avoid mistakes; maybe that person can be your mentor. Prepare for disappointments, but never let it deter you.

Now, I know you have a Management certificate from Cornell, and a Bachelor’s and Masters degree. Out of all the things you learned in college, which have proven to be the most helpful in terms of taking you to the next level, business-wise?

I think what college prepares all of us for is the ability to discern information, being able to meet deadlines, and the ability to analyze and to be a thinker. College taught me how to function in a group. It also gave me the opportunity to interact and work together with different people which is beneficial in the business world. While I don’t think there’s anything specific in relation to my course work, I do believe that those fundamental skills have helped me on the business level.

Out of all the sites and places on the My Haiti Travels itinerary, which drew the most oohs and ahhs from your tourist-clients?

I think it’s different for everyone. I had one client who was amazed that the school we volunteered at had a wheelchair ramp. Another could not believe we were at a restaurant smoking hookah. I think others are always amazed at Arcadins Coast and the mountains behind mountains everywhere you turn.

Where do you hope to take your venture?

That’s a good question. We just finished a hugely successful 2nd Annual ImpactWeek tour during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. With that behind us, we’re launching our first annual Memorial Day Weekend tour called Jacmel Getaway on May 22 – May 26. We’re also constantly visiting and reviewing establishments in Haiti for our “mango reviews” to help people choose where to go when visiting Haiti. We’re also building our Travel Stories Blog. We remain committed to showing the authenticity of Haiti, supporting local businesses and giving back directly to the Haitian youth.

Thank you for chatting with me again. Always a pleasure

Visit the Impact Week Haiti Website | Jacmel Getaway | MyHaitiTravels | MyHaitiTravels on Twitter

A pleasure indeed.

Haiti tourism marketing is the job of not one person, but everyone! Each of the persons on this list—whether Haitian or blan—have done his/her/their share of bringing Haiti’s tourism to a new level in their own way. So in no particular order or ranking, here are some the top Haiti tourism influencers….Ahem…from your favorite chick Kreyolicious.

1. My Haiti Travels

Overview Founded by entrepreneur Dina Simon, Haiti Travels was launched in the early 2010s. It caters to mainstream tourists as well as Haitian-Americans who are visiting Haiti for the first time as adults, or are visiting Haiti for the first time…period. Simon’s tours center on Jacmel, a city in the Southern part of Haiti, but can also be customized to fit the traveler’s desired itenerary. Many Haitian-American Millennials and other Haitian-American professionals who had not thought of Haiti as a vacation spot were persuaded by the photos shared by My Haiti Travels to reconsider! CLICK HERE to visit the My Haiti Travels website.

2. Bellevue Tours

Overview: Bellevue Tours’ Haiti Discovery Tour invites travelers to discover Haiti’s historical sites, primarily the ones in Cap Haitien, a historical city where La Citadelle Laferriere, a legendary fortress built in the 1800s stands. Bellevue Tours has been responsible for bringing groups of Haitian-American professionals and organizations to visit Haiti through the arresting photos shared by the company’s owners in social media. CLICK HERE to visit the BV Tours website!

3. Frere Joel

Overview: A pastor from the Midwestern United States, Frere Joel travels to different parts of Haiti, especially Haiti’s rural parts, and explores historical bits. More often than not, he’s interested in the culinary aspect of the little-known parts of Haiti. His “La Bonne Nouvelle” videos have been broadcast on Island TV, a Miami-based television network, creating a new appreciation for Haiti’s beauty among those in the Haitian Dyaspora. Frere Joel especially appeals to the older, religious and conservative crowd living outside of Haiti. His videos emphasize local tourism, and encourage those living in Haiti to appreciate what’s in their backyard. CLICK HERE to visit his website!

4. Haiti Travel Guy/Terry Curtis

Overview: Originally from the Midwest USA, the Haiti Travel Guy begun doing small personal excursions in Haiti after the earthquake. From there, he launched his website Haiti Travel Adventures, where he wrote reviews of hotels and restaurants in Haiti. His Twitter account, followed by Haitian-Americans, expatriates and other assorted curious folks, pumped photos of Haiti, while not making light of some less than positive aspects of the island. Additionally, the Haiti Travel Guy conducted tours, provided travel consultation to those wanting to start businesses in Haiti or just want to visit.
CLICK HERE to visit the Haiti Travel Guy website!

5. Haiti Tourism Inc/Dave Toussaint

Overview: Haiti Tourism Inc is helmed by Dave Toussaint, who begun his company by sharing positive images of Haiti’s beaches, historical sites, and hotels on Facebook and Twitter. Now the company has grown into a Haiti travel consulting company, in addition to continuing on with tours. CLICK HERE to visit the Haiti Tourism Inc website!

There you have it! The top Haiti tourism influencers, as named by your fave chick Kreyolicious…well, just the first 5! Keep on the look out until we get to the top 25.

CLICK HERE to read more Haiti tourism articles. Hooray!

Okay, the list of top Haiti tourism influencers continues! It’s time to give these hard-working folks a little pat and lwil maskriti [er, castor oil] massage on the back. Whether they’re tour operators, hotel owners, tourism book authors, Haiti tourism photos aggregators, they are worthy of praise! Did you check out #1-5 of the countdown? If not, CLICK HERE! Now for the next couple of folks on the list! Your favorite chick Kreyolicious is going to count them down to the very end!

6. Stephanie Villedrouin

The former head of Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism, Villedrouin is credited by many observers with signing several deals, putting structure in place to aid Haiti’s tourism industry. Her team’s intense social media program made Haitian-Americans and other individuals of Haitian descent discover Haiti’s potential as a hot tourism spot.

7. Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism

Overview: Without a “main office”, most companies can’t function. Well, consider Haiti’s Ministry of Tourism as a main office for Haiti’s tour operators, hotels, and the like. It establishes infrastructure, keeps others abreast on the latest developments in Haiti tourisms, deals signed, and tourism milestones reached.

8. Zoom Sur Haiti

Overview: Launched by a pair of Haitian-Canadians, Zoom Sur Haiti targets French speaking travelers of Haitian descent, as well as French speakers who are also travelistas! CLICK HERE to visit the Zoom Sur Haiti website.

9. Jerry Tardieu

Well, it’s one thing to have upscale travel magazine-level sites for tourists to visit, but where are they going to stay? Tardieu launched Royal Oasis, a five-star hotel in Haiti that has become a primary destination for both business and luxury travelers. CLICK HERE to visit the Royal Oasis website!

[Photo Credit: Verdy Verna.]

10. Paul Clammer

Overview: Clammer wrote the first English-language guide to Haiti in decades in the mid-2010s. He followed it up last year with a revised and expanded edition. Clammer’s work is especially important because of his reputation as a travel writer for the prestigious Bradt series. He and his publisher are based in England—a country that definitely could expound on its knowledge of Haiti’s offerings. CLICK HERE to read more about Paul Clammer and his Haiti guides.

There you have it! The top Haiti tourism influencers! Do you know of any Haiti tourism up-and-coming companies or know of others that are about to be launched? Sound off below. Plug them! Plug, plug away! Give Haiti tourism influencers their moment!

Do know the top Haiti tourism influencers? The countdown continues below. If you missed the previous segments of the countdown, feel free to CLICK HERE!

11. Wahoo Bay Beach

Overview: Wahoo Bay Beach is located miles and miles away from Port-au-Prince, according to Google Maps, which makes it ideal when and if the capital is going “thru it”. The beach-side hotel has a seafood-heavy menu, adventurous excursions, and offers travelers Haiti at its best, while still treating them to accommodations they’ve gone accustomed to in their vacations in other countries. It also helps greatly that the resort has a tireless social media team that works (seemingly!) around the clock to provide amenities photos, deal offers, event photography that can attract tourists to Wahoo Bay Beach, and Haiti in general. CLICK HERE to visit the Wahoo Bay Beach website, and don’t forget to book your trip while you’re at it!

12. IG Haiti

Overview: Okay, so IG Haiti doesn’t organize tours, nor does it own any hotels. What it does is distribute photos of Haiti on social media at a rapid, consistent space. Its heavy social media program has lured more 37,000 fans on the Instagram platform alone. The fact that it was an early adopter of that social media platforms has made it a Haiti tourism bastion. Followers of IG Haiti ooh and ah, at photos and before you know it, they’re booking trips to Haiti! CLICK HERE to view photos aggregated by IG Haiti. [Photo Credit: Hunter Kintrell]

13. Let’s Go Haiti

Overview: The woman behind Let’s Go Haiti is a Belgian adventurer who discovered Haiti, and took it upon herself to establish a business to help spread the word. Whether bringing in tourists from her homeland Belgium into Haiti, or from Brazil, Let’s Go Haiti is about making the rest of the world know that Haiti is a viable tourism spot.

14. Manman Pemba

Overview: Haiti needed a Trip Advisor of its own. Manman Pemba was up to the challenge and provided an extensive directory of Haiti’s hotels, dining venues, gyms, events, health and beauty stores. The site is regularly updated, and event includes event listings about Haiti’s nightlife for visitors and residents.
CLICK HERE to visit the Manman Pemba site.

15. Frederick Alexis

Overview: A photographer who specializes in photographing events in Haiti, Alexis had one of the strongest and most consistent presence on the Internet post-2010s. Whether photographing cultural events and figures in Haiti, or shooting Haiti’s much-discussed carnival, this photographer is a tourism ambassador with a camera in hand.

Do you know of any Haiti tourism up-and-coming companies or know of others that are about to be launched? Sound off below. They’re future Haiti tourism influencers! Plug them! Plug, plug away!

There you have if folks…the top Haiti tourism influencers. If you missed the previous installments of this countdown, feel free to CLICK HERE!

CLICK HERE to read Haiti tourism articles!

Have you ever wondered about who the top Haiti tourism influencers and players are? Well, have you? The countdown continues below. If you missed the previous segments of the countdown, feel free to CLICK HERE!

16. Spring Break in Haiti

One of the pioneers of collegiate travel in Haiti, Spring Break in Haiti has been instrumental in bringing twenty-something college students and Haitian-Americans to various part of Haiti for more than a decade. With its partying with a purpose philosophy, the organization encourages students to enjoy what Haiti has to offer, while making their stay an educational experience.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Spring Break in Haiti.

17. Carel Pedre, PleziKanaval

Launched by Haiti-based radio host Carel Pedre, Plezi Kanaval serves as a showcasing platform for Haiti’s Kanaval season. Furthermore, the platform has encouraged many to travel to Haiti during carnival season or make travel plans for the Haitian carnival season.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Plezi Kanaval.

18. Carl B, Bonspoon

Haitian food, Haitian food, and more Haitian food! Bonspoon was created to make the life of the food-loving traveler to Haiti easier. It highlights restaurants, bars, and bakeries, and eateries all over the island. Since its launch, Bonspoon has added Haitian restaurants from all over the world to its database.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Bonspoon.

19. Stephan Durand

Berrouet Durand co-launched Gout et Saveurs Lakay, a food festival that put the whole world on notice about Haiti’s rich cuisine and culinary traditions. The food and wine festival has been responsible for bringing chefs around the world to Haiti, in addition to those of Haitian descent. More than five years in existence, the food festival is now an annual staple and serves to remind the world about Haiti’s culinary offerings. Berrouet Durand, who’s also the founder of Culinary by Design, is a graduate of Miami’s Johnson and Wales University.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Chef Stephan Berrouet Durand.

20. Moulin Sur Mer

Moulin Sur Mer is the original island resort on water everybody has tried to copy or claim to have created. Haha! But, alas, an original remains, well, an original. Located in the beachside, seafood-laden town of Montrouis, Haiti, Moulin Sur Mer has hosted weddings of members of the Haitian diapora. It pulls tourists of all ages into Haiti through its lush cuisine, watersports, kayaking, aqua-gliding, snorkeling offerings and unique architecture.

CLICK HERE to visit Moulin Sur Mer.

Be sure to check out the next phase of the Haiti tourism influencers countdown! Meanwhile, CLICK HERE to read more about Haiti tourism!