TOURISM: A MODERN FORM OF COLONIALISM

IN HAITI?

Lecturer Event & Tourism Management

The University of Winchester (Faculty Business, Law, Sport)

Dr Hugues SERAPHIN

STRUCTURE

1 – Introduction

2 – Literature review

3- Tourism a godsend or an evil for Haiti?

4 – Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

Tourism profile of the studied destination

Haiti was the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean between the 1940s and the 1960s and, as such, attracted an international jet set.

In 1957, the dictatorship and the atmosphere of terror organised by Francois Duvalier and his Tontons Macoutes, crippled the country’s tourism industry.

By 2012, the tourism industry had been identified by the new government of Haiti as a top priority that could lead to the economic development of the country. The Ministry of Tourism has since focused most of its effort in changing the image of the destination (Séraphin, 2014b).

LITERATURE REVIEW

Colonialism

Tourism and colonialism

1. COLONIALISM

Colonialism started four thousand years after the slave trade in the 15th century. In the case of Africa, colonisation was characterised by: (a) a political control of the continent by European countries to ensure the protection of their economic interest (b) an exploitation of local labour (c) exploitation of local natural resources. To resist this colonialism the majority of African countries sought independence.

Intra-state and inter-state conflicts in contemporary Africa are the consequences of colonialism (Bayeh, 2015). The situation was more or less the same in Haiti. Butler and Séraphin (2013) have established that Africa (particularly Kenya) and Haiti have many commonalities.

2. TOURISM AND COLONIALISM

At the moment, tourism is all about people from rich countries visiting poor countries. People from poor countries are often denied access to rich countries. In this instance, tourism can be considered as a form of colonialism of northern countries over southern countries, with people of the north feeling superior to people of the south most of the time. Tourism from an ethnographic point of view represents in this case a danger for local cultures (Franck, 2000).

Ian Thomson, in ‘Bonjour blanc, a journey through Haiti’ (2014) explains that tourists in Haiti are not just tourists, they are white people: ‘Blanc’. They are constantly referred to by their skin colour and are seen as a cash cow. In the tourism and hospitality sector this can be an issue particularly when it comes to customer service (Séraphin, 2013; Séraphin & Butler, 2013).

TOURISM: A GODSEND OR AN EVIL FOR HAITI?

Colonialism in the Haitian tourism context

Entrepreneurship in tourism as a tool for emancipation for Haitians

1. COLONIALISM IN THE HAITIAN TOURISM CONTEXT

In the updated version of ‘Bonjour blanc, a journey through Haiti’, Thomson (2014) highlights an important question regarding the impact of the tourism industry for the country:

‘New Hilton and Marriott hotels are due to open in Port-au-Prince; change is coming fast. The question is whether the poor - that is, the majority of Haitians – will benefit from the foreign loans and investment, whether money will trickle down from the Hilton to the slums at the harbour’s mouth. No doubt something will be lost as the global market brings more all-inclusive resort hotels and standardised Palm Beach sport cabin villages. As in Jamaica in the 1950s, it will be a trade-off between dignity and the mighty dollar (...) but jobs are needed’ (Thomson, 2014: xiv).

Based on the above quote and findings from the literature review section, we are going to consider tourism as a form of colonialism in Haiti. The purpose of this research paper is also to determine a way to use tourism as a tool for emancipation.

2. COLONIALISM IN THE HAITIAN TOURISM CONTEXT (references)

Séraphin, H. & Butler, C. (2013) Impacts of the slave trade on the service industry in Kenya and Haiti: The case of the Tourism and Hospitality sector, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 11, (1), 71-89

Séraphin, H. & Nolan, E. (2014) Voodoo in Haiti: A Religious Ceremony at the Service of the ‘Houngan’ Called ‘Tourism’, in Frost, W. & Laing, J. (Eds), Rituals and traditional events in the modern world, New-York: Routledge

3. ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TOURISM AS A TOOL FOR EMANCIPATION FOR HAITIANS

Michel (2000) claims tourism can fully benefit a destination, only if the locals are fully involved in the planning and development of the industry

Manyara and Jones (2005), micro and small scale enterprises can increase the participation of the poor in the tourism industry. Rogerson (2003) based on his research in South Africa supports Manyara and Jones (2005) as he argues that it is only through small enterprises that rural people can participate in tourism.

When formal tourism enterprises are owned by locals, there is a high likelihood of purchase of local supplies, meaning other sectors of the local economy are going to benefit from this activity (Shah, 2000). Wanhill (2000) supports this point of view as he contends that for tourism to be beneficial in terms of income generation, economic growth, poverty reduction, and improving rural livelihoods

CONCLUSION

The tourism sector in Haiti can go one of three ways:

•The tourism sector is mainly in the hands of Haitians – The Haitian identity remains strong in the industry. The tourists are therefore going to experience an original product

•The Haitian diaspora has the upper hand in the tourism sector – The Haitian identity is somehow diluted. The tourists are going to have a mixed cultural experience and product

•The tourism sector is no longer in the hands of Haitians or the Haitian diaspora, but in the hands of foreigners or international companies, the Haitians will be totally alienated from their tourism industry and the products / services offered to tourists will be standardised and the destination will lose it competitive advantage

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

ANY QUESTION?

Hugues.seraphin@winchester.ac.uk