As Haiti counts down to the highly anticipated first-ever Diaspora Fair set to unfold across November 6 and 7, 2026, in the northern coastal hub of Cap-Haïtien, federal authorities are ramping up cross-agency preparations to deliver a safe, welcoming, and impactful event for both returning diaspora members and local participants. On October 21, 2026, Tourism Minister Stéphanie Smith led a series of strategic coordination sessions focused on tightening on-ground security frameworks while elevating the city’s readiness to host the landmark gathering. Minister Smith first held a closed-door working session with Aucelie Rock, director of Haiti’s specialized Tourist Police (PoliTOUR), to map out priority safety upgrades focused on the Cap-Haïtien region and its international airport, the primary entry point for most diaspora attendees traveling from overseas. The two leaders formalized immediate action items, including a stepped-up, coordinated PoliTOUR presence at the airport in partnership with the National Airport Authority (AAN) and existing airport security teams, to streamline arrival processing, provide clear on-site orientation for visiting guests, and resolve any travel-related disruptions in real time. Officials are also evaluating plans to deploy a permanent dedicated PoliTOUR unit at the national Ministry of Tourism headquarters, to reinforce security for institutional events and deliver more responsive support for cross-ministerial tourism programming. Beyond the fair-specific arrangements, the discussions advanced long-deferred plans to expand PoliTOUR’s geographic coverage across Haiti’s key tourism zones, with targeted rollouts scheduled for the Greater South and Northeast regions in the coming months. The ministry has also earmarked resources to upgrade officer uniforms and patrol equipment, alongside a new recruitment drive to bring 50 additional trained safety personnel on board to patrol high-traffic cultural and tourism sites nationwide. Earlier that same week, Minister Smith joined a multi-stakeholder consultative convening led by Katia Verdier, Minister for Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), to review end-to-end preparations for the upcoming fair. The gathering included representatives from the Haitian National Police, the Cap-Haïtien municipal administration, the national General Administration of Customs, and the Ministry of Public Works, where attendees aligned on shared accountability to remove logistical bottlenecks and guarantee the event runs smoothly. Launched as a joint initiative between MHAVE, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Tourism, with formal high-level patronage from the Office of the Prime Minister, the 2026 Diaspora Fair is designed as a dedicated collaborative platform to celebrate Haitian cultural heritage, spotlight homegrown talent, and highlight untapped economic investment opportunities across the country. Organizers note the event is structured to foster new, long-term partnerships between overseas Haitian communities and local domestic stakeholders, strengthening transnational community ties while driving tangible, inclusive national development outcomes.