Honduras achieves significant progress

Dear Friends: It gives me great pleasure to share with you some wonderful news; our beloved Honduras has achieved significant advances over the course of the past year in its development and positioning as a tourism-oriented Central American nation. The declaration of the President of the Republic, Juan Orlando Hernández, to place Tourism as a National Priority, has opened doors for great achievements that are reflected foremost in the latest Tourism Competitiveness Report for 2015 by the World Economic Forum WEF, which details that Honduras improved its position in the policies and conditions that foster tourism, even ranking above Costa Rica. Secondly, it is of great significance that the Global Peace Index report stated Honduras no longer ranks among the top five most violent countries of the continent in its latest poll. A lot of effort has gone into maintaining the climate of security in tourist destinations, and those actions produced record figures this year of 100,000 cruise passengers throughout the three cruise ports solely during the month of March, which is the busiest season. In addition, Roatan was recognized for having the healthiest coral reefs throughout the region according to the International Organization of Healthy Reefs. The promotion of the tourist beauties Honduras has to offer captivated major audiences thanks to the European “Survivor” reality show, which was seen by over 8 million Europeans viewers. Significant projects have been realized such as the construction and furnishing of airstrips in areas of great interest, such as Copan and Gracias, as well as the opening of new hotels and a modern convention center in San Pedro Sula for 2016. New tourism products are currently being developed such as birdwatching and the Coffee Route, the restoration of the Talgua caves and white city not to mention the positioning of tourist products ranging from beautiful beaches, living cultures, archeology, nature and adventure, tradition and gastronomy. Without a doubt 2016 will be better thanks to the ongoing support of entrepreneurs of our country and involvement of people living in tourist destinations.