Labadee beach in Haiti (Image: Getty)
Royal Caribbean International has returned to its private Labadee resort in Haiti after several months.
had stopped bringing tourists to its private £40 million resort, due to a state of emergency being declared in the country and violent gang attacks in February 2024.
More than 15,000 people in Haiti were reportedly displaced in one week due to gangs targetting residential areas.
A which came out two days ago reveals a sharp rise in gang violence in Haiti, with over 5,600 deaths and widespread human rights violations in 2024.
A company spokesperson from the cruise ship company said in March 2024: “The safety and security of our guests, crew, and communities we visit are our top priority.
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Police conducting an operation after armed gangs killed 50 in attack near Haiti’s capital (Image: Getty)
“Our global security and intel team has been closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti.”
Labadee is a private resort located on Haiti’s northern coast, leased by Royal Caribbean Group in 1985 for exclusive use by passengers of its cruise lines.
The resort, which spans 260 acres has strict security measures that prevent locals from entering and passengers from leaving the property.
Attractions include beaches, watersports, an alpine coaster, and the world’s largest zip-line over water.
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The cruise resort of Labadee (Image: Getty)
Haiti is a country rich in culture and history with significant tourism potential, but has recently been hindered by insecurity, political crises and gang violence.
Natural disasters have also not helped the situation with an earthquake in 2021 killing more than 2,000 people and affecting more than 1.2 million.
Hurrican Matthew, in 2016, killed more than 500 people and displaced about 175,000 inhabitants.
Labadee has faced criticism for its separation from the rest of Haiti and the limited economic benefits it offers to the local population.
Despite an incident involving gunfire targeting flights landing in Port-au-Prince in November, the cruise line continues to operate at its private destination on Haiti’s north coast, .
As one of the poorest countries in the world, Haiti has not historically been a top choice for travelers.
The country’s development has been hindered by foreign interventions, political instability, and frequent natural disasters.