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Haiti continues to impose itself as a tourist destination. The latest action was to be the host country of the World Tourism Organization for the Americas.

On May 22, 2015, the 58th regular meeting of the Commission of the World Tourism Organization for the Americas (WTOA), based on a theme of "multi-destination opportunities for regional integration", was held at the Karibe Convention Center in Petionville. During the convention, it was discussed how the tourist destinations within the region are interconnected and they are complemented by each other. If their connectivity, infrastructure and supporting institutions can be put to work on mutual interest, a higher sustainable growth in the tourism sector can be achieved. During the summit, two important documents were signed. Firstly, , the "World Tourism Ethics Code" was signed by the 14 representatives of the Haitian private sector of tourism and a declaration on the opportunities of multi-destination for regional integration was unanimously accepted. On the sidelines of the convention, there were few bilateral meetings between delegates, including Haiti and the Seychelles Islands.

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Five cities in Haiti are getting ready to host the 12th edition of CARIFESTA which is expected to impact various sectors of the population. Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, and Cayes are the lucky cities with the possibilities to exhibit work from a variety of artistic categories.

The Twelfth Edition of the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA XII) will be held on August 14-23, 2015 in the five Haitian cities (Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, and Cayes) under the theme of `Our Roots, Our Culture, Our Common Future'. The objective of the festival is to provide a forum where artists can discuss motivation, technique and other aspects of the arts. It is an international, multicultural event organized on a periodic basis by the countries of the Caribbean. It is a gathering of the musicians, artists, authors to display their folkloric and artistic expression. Every year, as per CARIFESTA "Host Country Agreement", the host country sets out the legal and operational framework for the smooth continuance of festival activities. Suriname was the first country to sign this agreement before the CARIFESTA XI in 2013.

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Here is the book released by ISPAN in the presence of Ambassador of USA, 200 monuments and sites of Haiti, listed by ISPAN.

The National Heritage Protection Institute (ISPAN) with the support of a grant of US$41,500 from the United States named "U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (2012)" has published an illustrated cultural document-- "200 Monuments and Sites of Haiti". A copy of the book has been gifted by Joan Dithny Raton, the Haitian Minister of Culture to the U.S Ambassador in Haiti Ms. Pamela A. White during a ceremony held at the historic Fort-Jacques, in recognition of her country's contribution to the publication of this cultural document. During the occasion, Patrick Durandis, the Director of ISPAN has said that it is a matter of regret that our historic sites and our heritage are better known to others than the Haitians. The book contains some of the most representative photographs and information on our diverse heritage and rich culture that everybody must know.

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Here is a picture of Haitian-Canadian Dany Laferrière as he received the traditional Academician sword in the French Academy

This took place during a ceremony in the town hall of Paris. This particular traditional Academician sword was created by the Haitian sculptor Patrick Vilaire.

Recently, in an induction ceremony at the Academie Francaise, French Academy, in Paris, Thursday May 28, 2015, the Haitian-born Canadian writer Dany Laferriere was enrolled as the newest member of l'Academie Francaise in the presence of 300 guests including the former Quebec premiers Jean Charest, Pauline Marois and Bernard Landry. Pierre Karl Péladeau, the leader of Parti Québécois was also present. The Académie française is a 40-member council, founded by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII, in 1635, and that is responsible to maintain the standards of the French language. Laferrière had received his "Academician Sword" from the French novelist and French Academy member Jean d'Ormesson (C) at City Hall in Paris on May 26, 2015. He was elected to the council in December 2013, but the formal induction ceremony, loyal to a 400 year old protocol, was held on Thursday.

Dany Laferrière was born (13 April 1953) in Port-au-Prince and raised in Petit Goâve. He worked as a journalist in Haïti before moving to Canada in 1976 and hosting television programming for the TQS network. His first novel (How to Make Love to a Negro Without Getting Tired) was published in 1985, it was later adapted into a screenplay and won 11th Genie Awards in 1990. He has so far authored about 20 novels, including the award-winning "L'enigme du retour". He is the first Quebec writer to join the "immortals category"-- the term is referred for people named to the council to join the 39 other members, called immortals; they are elected to the institution for life. His introduction speech at the Academy touched on a theme that is often present in most of his works-- "exile".

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Here is a picture of the the American singer Beyonce, a 20-time Grammy winner, as she was in Haiti on May 16, 2015 to monitor progress. As several heads of state and other high officials came to Haiti recently to show that they did not forget the people, Beyonce also wants to show the public that Haiti is on her mid as well in this photo opportunity; however, the actual effect of all these aids that the country received following the 2010 earthquake remains questionable.

On May 17, the , multiple Grammy award-winner Beyoncé visited Haiti on a United Nations humanitarian mission to look at the progress of the reconstruction work made since the devastating earthquake shattered the country five years ago. The American singer, winner of 20 Grammy awards was accompanied by Valerie Amos, the chief of United Nations' humanitarian affairs and the coordinator of emergency relief. Beyoncé was wearing a T-shirt bearing a logo of her charity organization 'BEYGOOD'. During her trip, she met some of the earthquake victims.

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here is a picture of a cat size Rodent found in Haiti. It was named afterJames Bond's hutia or Plagiodontia aedium bondi.

A newly-discovered rodent has been found on the island of Hispaniola by a team of scientists led by the Zoological Society of London and it has been named James Bond's 'hutia'. It's the size of a cat and looks like an oversized guinea pig, but has managed to avoid detection until now. It weighs more than a kilogram, and has soft-brown fur and a short tail. The scientific classification of this species is "Plagiodontia aedium bondi"; it is a part of a unique Caribbean mammal family that once numbered more than 30 species. As per the description of journal Zootaxa, this guinea-pig-like creature belongs to an ancient group of rodents called hutias. James Bond was a Caribbean based ornithologist who is said to have been the inspiration of Ian Fleming's famous fictional spy character. He carried out years of research into the area. He identified an area (now called Bond's Line) that marks the home of hutia and its closest relatives. Sadly, these rodents are considered endangered and their continued survival on the island hangs in the balance as most of their habitat has been destroyed by Man.

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Haiti is making a gesture to show that it doesn't matter how little you have, you can still share with another who is going through difficulties. The government of Haiti has pledged the sum of $1 million to earthquake recovery in Nepal

According to the National Palace sources, Haiti has donated US$ 1 million to the earthquake recovery efforts in Nepal, as a mark of solidarity move from the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. The money has been remitted by President Martelly on Saturday, May 16th. The Presidential spokesperson Lucien Jura has said that the funds were raised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where most of the donations came from the Haitian Diaspora. However, there was no disclosure about the method of remittance or the identity of the recipient whether it is the Nepalese government or any aid group such as the Red Cross or Clinton Global Initiative.

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There has been an ongoing issues of fraud with Haitians applying for visa in the U.S. ant the American government wants to bring the attention of the Haitian public to this crisis. The anti-fraud department for the agency responsible for dealing with such issues has reported recently to have recorded an alarming record of about 11,000 cases of fraud by Haitians in applying for U.S. Visas.

On May 17, with the alarming rate of visa assistance and application frauds, Robert Hannan, the US Consul General in Haiti has described the right process for applying and procuring U.S visa. There were about 11,000 instances of visa applications where the applicants have given wrong information about their family, financial and professional backgrounds. Mr. Hannan has urged every applicant to provide only truthful information. The U.S department has informed every applicant to contact directly at the US Embassy for every visa update; the department does not authorize any intermediary person or authority in visa assistance service. Visa application fees are to be deposited directly to the SogeXpress only and another at the US Embassy in exchange of the visa.

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Here is a picture of Stephanie Balmir Villedrouin and Seychelles Tourism Minister together in Haiti. This map shows the island of Seychelles and its location. It is considered a huge tourist destination which is the strongest element in its economy.

Recently, Alain St. Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture visited Port-au-Prince during the 58th UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization). He took the podium to address about the implementation of an effective regional integration system that would improve air and land connectivity & facilitate traveling. He met his Haitian counterpart Stephanie Balmir Villedrouin, the Minister for Tourism and Creative Industries of Haiti to discuss on multi-destination opportunity within the region. The Seychelles Minister took the opportunity to float his country as an ideal tourist destination. Tourism is one of the main economic pillars of Seychelles. The Haitian minister also discussed about the possibility to lead a delegation to mark the 30th anniversary of the Creole Festival in Seychelles. Seychelles and Haiti are both Creole speaking nations, even though they sit far on the globe.

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Here is the picture of a giant in the Haitian folks and Troubadour Music. Beken has dedicated his life to music.

Jean-Prosper Deauphin is simply known to his fans as 'Beken'. No hardship in his life was ever able to stop him creating soulful, melodic brand of Haitian folk music in the style of Twobadou (in French Troubadour). He lost his leg in a car accident at the age of 12. After the devastating 2010 earthquake, he found himself homeless, living in a tent camp in a public square. He became popular in Haiti after his U.S tour in the 1980s. But some bad monetary decisions pushed him into penury. After a long break, he was again rediscovered by a photographer Simon Romero, who discovered him singing at a camp meant for the displaced persons. His spirit filled work inspired producers Chris Donahue and David Macias of Thirty Tigers to help him to introduce to a new audience and Beken's newest album Troubadour was thus produced. It is his first release under a U.S label. His warm vocal with soothing guitar makes listening a delightful and calming experience. He describes himself as a melancholy artist who inspires sadness.

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