PARC NATIONAL HISTORIQUE

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MINISTRY OF TOURISM
PRESENTS
IMPACT OF NATURAL DISASTERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
TOURISM IN HAITI
Presentation by Patrick DELATOUR Architect of
Monuments Ministry of Tourism
14 November 2007
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Summary

• The Haitian Tourist Product
• Types of disasters recorded in Haiti
• Damage recorded
• Impact on Tourism
• Defence Strategies
• Conclusion

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The Haitian Tourism Product

• NATURAL HERITAGE
• Beaches
• Mountains
• Caves
• Rivers
• TANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
• Historic towns
• Coastal fortifications
• Mountain fortification
• Civil architecture
• Military architecture
• INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
• Folklore
• Carnival
• Rara music
• Vodou
• Etc.

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Types of Natural Disasters Recorded in Haiti

• Earthquakes
• Hurricanes
• Tropical storms
• Tropical waves
• Floods
• Fires

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Natural Disasters and Seismic Risks in Haiti
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Natural disasters and seismic risks in Haiti
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Examples of damage recorded in Haiti

• Destruction of the historic city of Cap-Haïtien
  in 1842 by an earthquake
• Destruction of the town of Sans Souci in 1842
• Weakening of the Citadelle Henri in 1842
• Flooding of the city of Jacmel (Gordon 1994)
• Flooding of the city of Les Gonaïves (Jeanne
  2003)
• Flooding of the city of Les Cayes (Dean 2007)
• Etc.

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Impact on the tourist industry

• Destruction of beaches
• Destruction of natural sites
• Destruction of sites or buildings of high
  cultural heritage value
• Destruction of hotel facilities
• Damage of transport facilities (airports, ports)
• Destruction of roads leading to beaches and
  natural sites

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Recent cases
Flooding of the city of Les Gonaïves
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Recent cases
Flooding of the city of Les Cayes
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Recent cases
Flooding of the city of Les Cayes
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Recent cases
Flooding of the city of Les Cayes
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Recent cases
Flooding of the city of Les Cayes
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Recent cases
Flooding of the city of Jacmel
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Recent cases
Flooding of the city of Jacmel
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Recent cases
Floodingof the city of Jacmel
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Recent cases
Flooding of the Hotel La Jacmelienne
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Recent cases
Destruction of Congo Beach in Jacmel
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Recent cases
Destruction of Congo Beach in Jacmel
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Tourism Master Plan
Inclusion of an analysis of recent disasters and
their implications for tourism in the Tourism
Master Plan that came into force in 2007
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Defence Strategies

• Proposal to use mountain fortification as a means
  of defence against natural disasters

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Map of Forts
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Rationale of the Haitian Defence System
The North cordon controlled by Christophe
The West cordon controlled by Dessalines
Cordons of defence
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Examples of Territorial Protection

• Fortifications of Les Cahos by Toussaint
  Louverture
• Fortification of Marchand Dessalines by Jean
  Jacques Dessalines
• Fortification in the north by Henry Christophe
• Mountain fortification in the west by Alexandre
  Pétion
• Mountain fortification in the south-east by
  Magloire Ambroise
• Mountain in the south by Nicolas Geffrard

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Buildings left by Toussaint
Fort Louverture
Fort Bayonnais
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Mountain Fortification at Marchand Dessalines
Fort Décidé / overlooking the town of Dessalines
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Mountain fortification at Marchand Dessalines
Fort Fin du Monde
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Building left by Henry Crhistophe
Citadelle Henry
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Mountain Fortifications by Alexandre Petion
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FORT OGE
Mountain fortifications by Magloire Ambroise
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Mountain Fortifications by Nicolas Geffrard
CITADELLE DES PLATONS
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Characteristics of Haitian Fortifcations

• Mountain sites
• Enclosed and secure site
• Covered space
• Water reserves
• Food and munitions stores

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Principles of Fortification
Principles of Fortification
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Conclusion
Built heritage in the management of risks and
disasters

• Re-utilisation of enclosed spaces as sites of
  community meetings
• Re-utilisation of covered spaces as
  administrative and dormitory sites
• Exploitation of solar energy to electrify the
  fortifications
• Utilisation of the forts as weather stations
• Utilisation of the water reservoirs of the forts
  to water plants and develop greenhouses for
  reforestation
• Inclusion of the Mountain Fortifications in the
  circuit of emergency radio communication
• Utilisation of the forts as administrative
  centres for the National Parks
• Inclusion of the mountain fortifications in the
  development of sustainable tourism and in the
  management of risks and disasters.