Royal Caribbean says its ships are bringing in relief supplies as well

Concerns have been raised about whether revamping the quake-devastated Caribbean nation's tourism should continue as Haiti tries to rise up from the rubble that's left hundreds of thousands dead and 1.5 million homeless.

The debate has been fuelled by a decision to allow luxury liners on Caribbean cruises to continue to dock at a port in northern Haiti, despite last week's earthquake.

On one side of the argument critics are asking how appropriate is it for tourists to return so soon, as the world races to help Haiti.

The Labadee connection

Those opposed contend that it just doesn't sit right to have holiday makers being brought by Royal Caribbean Cruises to its private beach on the north Haitian coast at Labadee.

Labadee is an exclusive destination with pristine beaches, breathtaking scenery and spectacular water activity.

For the critics, having tourists enjoying such facilities while a significant number of the Haitian population try to pull themselves out of a humanitarian disaster about 80 miles away, is a level of insensitivity that should not be tolerated.

Royal Caribbean counters that its ship's visit to Labadee helps to generate economic activity and keep the thrust to improve Haitian tourism going even as the country grapples with the earthquake disaster.

The company's CEO Adam Goldstein says the three ships a week docking at Labadee are also bringing in relief supplies including vital food and water.

	A rescued woman gets some relief supplies

Mr Goldstein said too that some 500 Haitians in the northern part of the island were providing a range of services to cruise passengers, and that staying away from Haiti would deprive these people of this economic activity.

"From an economic standpoint there are 500 people who work on the side which makes us a very large employer and supporter of commerce on the north coast," he said.

The Royal Caribbean boss also said: "we feel that government and the people of the region would be devastated if the ships stopped calling there".

There is support for the Royal Caribbean position.

For and against

One online survey found that most passengers backed the cruising company's decision to resume its stops in Haiti.

And another poll of 4,700 people found 67% of British and US readers praised the aid and financial support ships and passengers were bringing to the port.

But others disagreed, saying they did not feel comfortable going to Haiti for a vacation at this time.

One person who identified herself as jerseygirl79 said online that not only would she not feel safe, but she would not feel comfortable enjoying a vacation so close to utter devastation and loss of life.