Impacts of The Slave Trade on The Service Industry in Kenya and Haiti: The Case of The Tourism and Hospitality Sec.

Research has demonstrated that the slave trade has impacted negatively not only on the economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa, but also on the levels of interpersonal trust between its people. This paper examines the impact of the slave trade on the tourism and hospitality sector in Kenya the starting point, and Haiti, the extension point. It seeks the answers two key questions: (1) What is the perception of the tourism and hospitality sector in Kenya and Haiti? (2) To what extent has slavery impacted on these sectors? The objective is to discover if there is a dilution of the impact the further you get from the starting point. The findings indicate no dissolution between the starting point and the extension point even though Haiti and Kenya are far apart geographically. Both countries have much in common as a result of the slave trade which is ultimately attributable to low levels of trust such as weak institutions, political instability and attitudes towards tourists. Ideologies rooted in slavery and reinforced through colonialism result in both countries engaging in a 'blanc'/'mzungu' rhetoric where the white tourist is seen as a cash cow. We conclude trust is required to achieve positive changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]