Tony Wheeler: Haiti is ‘Finding its Way Back Onto the Map’

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  08.05.08 | 12:48 PM ET

imageMore buzz on Haiti. We noted in June that the country isn’t nearly as crime-ridden as many believe. Now, writing in the Independent, Lonely Planet’s founder recalls the pleasures of a recent visit—and explains why he thinks more tourists may soon be following in his footsteps. Yes, the place is impoverished, and the infrastructure needs work, but, he adds, “there’s also exuberant colour, some amazing sights, music to rival nearby Cuba, and it’s certainly not overrun by tourists.”

Photo by M_Eriksson via Flickr (Creative Commons)

Tags: Caribbean, Haiti

Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


2 Comments for Tony Wheeler: Haiti is ‘Finding its Way Back Onto the Map’

Jason Wilson 08.05.08 | 10:23 PM ET

Yeah, ok Mr. Wheeler, whatever. This sounds like a dispatch from Thomas Kohnstamm.

Jason Wilson 08.06.08 | 12:45 AM ET

Unbelievable paragraphs by Mr. Wheeler:

“I’m taking a Caribintair flight to Cap Haitien. It’s only about 80 miles and the flight (with a female co-pilot) will take less than half an hour. By road it would be seven, if all went well.

It’s yet another example of how poverty pollutes. Lousy roads take more time to drive and consume more fuel, often in worn-out old vehicles which are environmentally unsound to start with. When things get really bad, the people who can afford it simply abandon the roads and take to the air.”

Mr. Wheeler: Well, if these Haitians could just get it together, I wouldn’t have to sully my carbon footprint by taking a plane…and look! They’ve even put a woman at the controls! Crikey!

...Who’d have thought that the founder of Lonely Planet would sound just like any other overprivileged Baby Boomer douchebag?

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