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28764: Re: 28755: Nekita (Comments) on post about college students and Haiti's tourism (fwd)
From: tjpershing@aol.com
Looking at developing Haitian tourism (or any other economic sector) can
benefit from the common development patterns in many US cities, where artists
and low end business people ( small restaurants, galleries, beauty parlors
etc.) move into blighted areas and lead to the gradual interest and
understanding of these area's charms and capabilities. I think of when I took a
loft in Jersey City and my NYC friends made cracks like "do I need a passport
to get there". Fifteen years later it is hot real estate.
along these lines, I know of one art foundation in Jacmel, FOSAJ, that is
offering artist in residence programs for fine artists, with great studio space
and a nice apartment to live in. Places like FOSAJ, non-profit and always
living at the edge of going under, need support from the Haitian american
community, in part because they already are an economic force on the ground (no
need to re-invent the wheel) and also because they are the core for a re-birth
in Haitian tourism, of which Haitian culture is a primary draw.
It would also be worth while to approach traditionally black universities and
approprite student unions in other universities to promote travel to Haiti over
spring break with a eye towards more than the traditional spring break fare,
like some powerful cultural history and real world realities, while still
promoting the great times to be had at Haiti's beaches, in her mountains and
among her people.
Tim