Tuesday, the President Michel Martelly, has adhered to the "Open Letter" of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and of World Council of Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC), at a reception given at the National Palace in honor of the visit of Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO.

This ceremony was also an opportunity for the Ministry of Tourism of Haiti (MDT) and the WTO to proceed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen the cooperation between the two organizations .

The Open Letter consists of an awareness campaign on Tourism of the UNWTO and of WTTC. Nearly forty states have already adhered to the campaign. This support will be reflected in the "Global leaders for tourism".

"As part of this ongoing campaign, we would like to invite His Excellency Mr. Michel Martelly, President of Haiti, to join other world leaders, as well as the UNWTO and to the WTTC, and to be heard at our side to participate to the action we are conducting to to include the travel and tourism among the major global priorities," have stressed the Secretary General of the UNWTO, M.Taleb Rifai and David Scowsill, the President and CEO of WTTC.

The President Martelly during his speech of adhesion declared "In accordance with the principles advocated by the WTO in this open letter, I agree to say that the Government gives itself the mission to achieve this economic growth in the respect of the environment, the ethical tourism for a sustainable tourism with the inclusion of communities."

The MoU that was signed by Ms. Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin, the Minister of Tourism and Mr. Taleb Rifai covering areas of mutual interest falling within the framework :

• of a national strategic plan for tourism development ;

• of a awareness campaign on benefits among the local population ;

• of a plan of tourism legislation ;

• of the establishment of skills and tools for the hospitality and the service of tourism ;

• of a renewable energy program for hotels, Statistics and Tourism Satellite Account.

On the sidelines of the conference-debate of the Tourism Association of Haiti, which was held Monday, October 29 at the Ritz Kinam 2, Mr. Rifai declared "After 25 years of isolation, it is necessary to make of Haiti what it was in the past [...] Because Haiti is a country with a rich cultural heritage and diverse, which can become a new tourist destination on the island of Hispaniola," in addition, M.Taleb Rifai announced its intention to advocate for Haitian tourism internationally and return to Haiti as a tourist with his family.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7026-haiti-tourism-haiti-on-the-tourist-map-of-the-world.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7009-haiti-tourism-official-visit-of-the-secretary-general-of-the-unwto.html

HL/ HaitiLibre