G Adventures Launches New Trips to Haiti

Oct 11, 2014

What:
After visiting Haiti several years after a devastating earthquake, Jeff Russill, vice president of innovation at G Adventures, is eager to launch new escorted tours to the rebounding Caribbean country.

Why It Matters:
With Haiti looking to rebuild its reputation as a great tourism destination, it is likely that G Adventure’s new offering will be the first of many that travel agents should keep an eye on, especially for those clients seeking active or culturally grounded vacations. G Adventure’s 10-day Highlights of Haiti tour begins at $2,499 per person and includes a visit to French-influenced Cap-Haitien, a chance to make local kasav flat bread and a stop at the Bassin-Bleu pools for cliff diving and swimming.

Fast Facts:
- In 2013, G Adventures was approached by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to assess and report on Haiti’s tourism potential. The IDB has an existing relationship with G Adventures’ non-profit organization, Planeterra, developing community-based projects to support local economies in Central and South America.

- According to figures from the Caribbean Tourism Organization, tourism arrivals to Haiti rose by 20.2 percent in 2013.

What They Are Saying:
- “We’re looking forward to bringing our travelers here to experience this strong culture, to spend locally and help Haiti fully recover,” said Jeff Russill, vice president of innovation at G Adventures. “G Adventures uses local suppliers, which means travelers’ money stays in the country. We firmly believe tourism can be a force for good.”

- “We’re concentrating on escorted groups initially, so I’m thrilled G Adventures is launching trips there,” said Jean-Marc Flambert, tourism marketing consultant for Haiti. Their ethical approach fits so well with how we want to help rebuild, through tourism and word-of-mouth.

- “There’s a real curiosity around traveling to Haiti; it's a place to be explored and adventure travel is the perfect way to see it. While travelers will visit the beach, Haiti is not a fly-and-flop destination,” Flambert said.