OAS assistant secretary general and Haitian minister examine tourism cooperation

WASHINGTON, USA: OAS Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Albert Ramdin, stressed the importance of tourism and its key role in Haiti’s future social and economic development during a meeting earlier this week with Haitian Minister of Tourism, Patrick Delatour.

The officials discussed current OAS-Haiti Program and activities in the context of the Tourism Master Plan adopted by the government of Haiti, elements of which are incorporated in the Document of National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction (DSNCRP).

OAS Assistant Secretary General Albert Ramdin

During the meeting Ambassador Ramdin emphasized the need for increased partnership between the public and private sectors to work towards promoting investments in tourism.

He welcomed the priority attention that the Haitian government places on the development of the tourism sector and reaffirmed OAS commitment to continue working with Haiti, in particular through the effective implementation of tourism related projects adopted in the framework of the Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (FEMCIDI).

Minister Delatour spoke about the priorities outlined in the Tourism Master Plan, such as training in the management of national parks and sites, the establishment of preservation, maintenance and management standards.

The Tourism Minister also mentioned the need to focus on the development of the national parks and sites to take advantage of the cultural aspect of the Haitian tourism product. He expressed confidence that OAS tourism projects with Haiti will be implemented.

Both officials agreed that the Organization of American States and Haiti will continue to work together and that the issue of tourism development in Haiti should be part of the upcoming Haiti Donor Conference scheduled to take place in Washington on April 14, 2009.