Transat Introduces New Holiday Packages to "Live The Haiti Experience"

Transat A.T. Inc., one of the largest integrated tourism companies in the world and Canada's holiday travel leader, will offer vacation packages to Haiti out of Montreal, beginning January 23, 2013.

The packages will combine stays in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, and on the Côte des Arcadins, featuring magnificent beaches, with an extensive program of guided excursions: museums, historical and natural sites, theme routes, sports and seaside activities.

In addition to seven-day double-discovery packages, travellers — especially those visiting family and friends in Haiti — will be able to choose from among a variety of four-day seaside packages. All excursions and visits will be led by local guides. Transat has concluded agreements with an incoming travel agency and hotels that offer a two-meal-a-day plan. The new products will be sold under the Transat Holidays brand.

Haiti is making substantial efforts to revitalize tourism activity and enhance the country's image. Haiti wants to take its place on the world stage within two years and benefit from the growth of international tourism. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the global tourism industry grew by 3 percent in 2011, to nearly one billion travellers, generating economic benefits of US$6 trillion, or 9 percent of the world's gross domestic product, and employed 255 million workers.

Haiti occupies the western portion of the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic. Hispaniola is the Caribbean's second-largest island, after Cuba. Haiti welcomed nearly 945,000 travellers in 2011, with cruise passengers making up nearly 65 percent of these international arrivals. Canada is Haiti's second-largest source of tourists, after the United States and before France.

Transat has a longstanding friendship with Haiti. Beyond its business operations — Air Transat flies weekly between Montreal and Port-au-Prince — the tour operator contributes to the Haitian community through its acts of solidarity. In recent years, Transat has transported tons of relief supplies to the country and supported the work of humanitarian organizations including the Canadian Red Cross and SOS Children's Villages.

Transat A.T. Inc. is an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 50 countries. A holiday travel specialist, Transat operates mainly in Canada and Europe, as well as in the Caribbean, Mexico and the Mediterranean Basin. Montreal-based Transat is also active in air transportation, accommodation, destination services and distribution.