Friday, Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin, the Minister of Tourism, and the technicians of the Ministry, have proceeded to the presentation of final report on the ground, of its strategic program of Integrated Regions of Tourist Development (Régions Intégrées d’Aménagement Touristique - RIAT), conducted from September 7 to November 7, 2012 in 49 localities grouped into 3 distinct zones of intervention of the Southern Region.

This project initiated by the Ministry of Tourism, aims to develop a strategic planning scheme of the territories for an integrated tourism development of the South Coast starting from Côtes-de-Fer to Port-à-Piment. This report presents the diagnosis of tourist potentials and constraints of the South Coast and will facilitate the implementation of the first investments in the tourism sector for the benefit of the regions identified.

The technical team of the Ministry, as part of this program, examined the components of tourism development on the south coast with emphasis on economic and social development and environmental protection in the region.

This report recommends fifteen actions, among others :

• The involvement of the cruise industry and travel companies and holiday ;

• An accompaniment of the Ministry to investors and the support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) specializing in tourism ;

• The implementation of training programs related to tourism professions ;

• The involvement of specialized media and promoters of events ;

• The direct access of visitors to tourist areas, and the implementation of policies to protect the environment...

After this first phase, the Ministry will address the second step of the program: the development of tourism Development Plan.

HL/ HaitiLibre