Every time I look at photographs of Bainet, Jacmel, Côtes-de-Fer, Belle-Anse, Anse-à-Pitres, and the breathtaking coastline of Haiti’s Southeast, I cannot help but feel both pride and sadness. Pride because our country possesses some of the Caribbean’s most spectacular natural treasures. Sadness because these treasures remain largely forgotten, neglected, and disconnected from the investment they deserve.
For decades, Haiti has spoken about tourism as a pillar of economic development. Yet our investments have often followed the same path, focusing repeatedly on the same destinations while leaving vast regions behind.
There is no doubt that Cap-Haïtien is one of Haiti’s historic jewels. The Citadelle and the Sans-Souci Palace are national treasures that deserve protection and promotion. Every Haitian should celebrate their importance. However, concentrating most tourism funding in one region while other parts of the country remain almost invisible is neither balanced nor sustainable.
Despite years of investment, Cap-Haïtien still struggles with major challenges. Visitors continue to encounter poor sanitation, insufficient urban planning, weak infrastructure, and limited tourism services. These issues are not a criticism of the city or its people; they are symptoms of a broader governance problem. Infrastructure alone cannot create a thriving tourism industry without effective management, maintenance, cleanliness, and long-term planning.
Meanwhile, the Southeast waits patiently.
Imagine a region connected by modern roads, equipped with reliable electricity, clean drinking water, quality healthcare, and internet access. Imagine well-maintained beaches, protected marine parks, eco-lodges, hiking trails, restored historic towns, and local businesses welcoming visitors from around the world.
The Southeast possesses everything today’s travelers seek: untouched beaches, lush mountains, waterfalls, authentic fishing villages, rich culture, warm hospitality, and breathtaking landscapes. Unlike overcrowded tourist destinations elsewhere in the Caribbean, Haiti’s Southeast offers authenticity—an increasingly valuable asset in global tourism.
Places like Bainet could become centers for eco-tourism. Jacmel could further strengthen its reputation as Haiti’s cultural capital. Belle-Anse and Anse-à-Pitres could become gateways for sustainable coastal tourism. The entire Grand Sud could emerge as a destination where visitors experience nature, history, art, cuisine, and culture in one unforgettable journey.
This is not merely about attracting foreign visitors.
Tourism creates jobs for construction workers, farmers, fishermen, artisans, hotel employees, taxi drivers, tour guides, restaurant owners, musicians, and thousands of small entrepreneurs. Every dollar invested in tourism generates opportunities across multiple sectors of the economy.
Reports that international institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank are prepared to support development projects should encourage the Haitian government to think strategically. Development should not be concentrated in one city. Haiti’s future depends on building multiple centers of economic growth, each taking advantage of its unique strengths.
The Southeast is not asking for favoritism.
It is asking for fairness.
It is asking for roads that connect communities instead of isolating them.
It is asking for ports that encourage commerce.
It is asking for airports that welcome visitors.
It is asking for clean cities that reflect the dignity of their people.
It is asking for infrastructure that allows local businesses to grow.
Above all, it is asking for leadership with the vision to see beyond today’s challenges.
Haiti cannot afford to leave some of its greatest assets untouched while searching for economic solutions elsewhere. The natural beauty of the Southeast is not a dream—it is a reality waiting for investment, planning, and political will.
The government must open its eyes to the immense potential of Haiti’s Southeast and the Grand Sud. Investing in these regions is not simply a regional issue; it is a national strategy for economic growth, job creation, and renewed hope.
The future of Haitian tourism should not belong to one city alone.
It should belong to the entire nation.
The Southeast is ready.
The question is whether our leaders are ready to believe in it.
Garry Muzeau
1.829.548.2386