Travel warning as British tourists told to avoid Caribbean destination

While Haiti is a beautiful destination and one which, according to Statista, is projected to experience considerable tourism growth in the coming years, at the time of writing the UK Government is urging Britons not to visit the island destination or book holidays in the coming weeks. The news comes as mass violence has broken out due to political unrest.

A warning on the Gov.uk website states that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is urging all Britons to avoid travel to the country. Anyone who does travel to the area could also risk voiding their travel insurance policies.

The FCDO states: “FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti due to the volatile security situation. There are currently no British consular officials in Haiti and our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited and cannot be delivered in person in Haiti.

“British nationals may get consular services assistance at our diplomatic mission in the Dominican Republic.

“If you choose to travel to or stay in Haiti against FCDO advice, try to avoid all crowds and public events, and take appropriate security precautions.”

Since February 29, there have been a series of attacks on key government buildings in the capital Port-au-Prince, which are reported to be part of a push to remove Prime Minister Ariel Henry. The prime minister has since announced he will step down, with a traditional council to replace him.

A statement on the Gov.uk website further explains: “On March 3, 2024, prisoners escaped after gangs overwhelmed security forces at the main prison in Port au Prince, Haiti’s capital.

“The government has declared a state of emergency until 3 April 2024, applying to all areas in the Department de l’Ouest. Under the state of emergency, a curfew for citizens will run from 7pm on 11 March to 5am every day until 14 March 2024.”

In a bid to protect British consular officials, they have been removed from the country and moved to the nearby Dominican Republic. The FCDO explained: “FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti due to the volatile security situation. There are currently no British consular officials in Haiti and our ability to provide consular assistance is severely limited and cannot be delivered in person in Haiti.”

Despite the latest unrest in the nation, Statista has predicted positive growth for tourism in the Caribbean nation. The Travel & Tourism market in Haiti is poised to experience considerable growth in the coming years, according to the Statista findings.

“By 2024, the revenue in this market is projected to reach $183.40m (approximately £143.27m), with an anticipated annual growth rate of 4.76 percent from 2024 to 2028.

This growth is expected to result in a market volume of $220.90m (approximately £171.86m) by 2028.”

The island is also a popular stop off four cruises. Many cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, are still docking in Labadee – the cruise company’s day-use property located more than six hours from Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince.

The cruise line says that it is monitoring the situation throughout the area, with a spokesperson statement explaining: “The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority. Our global security teams are closely monitoring the situation in the area. At all times, we remind guests to remain aware of their surroundings while ashore and follow all State Department guidelines. Should any changes be required, guests will be notified directly.”