Honduras This Week Travel and Tourism

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Monday, November 25, 2002 Online Edition 45

Copan Update
By HOWARD ROSENZWEIG

Hot off the press, the Third Maya Conference is scheduled for May 15 - 17 in Copan Ruinas. Last years conference was a tremendous and monumental success. Hundreds of Maya scholars, academics and just plain aficionados participated in a plethora of conferences and events offered by some of the top experts in the field and they were wined and dined in true Copan style. Look for upcoming ads for the event in Archeology Magazine a principal sponsor of the event. It is recommended to reserve early as the event sold out quickly last year and procrastinators were forced onto a waiting list.

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San Pedro Sula is slated to get it’s own tourism police force shortly. As we speak, 35 candidates are undergoing an intensive 15-day course. The agents are receiving English, French and will be trained to assist tourists in the nations’ industrial capital. Tela and La Ceiba already have functioning tourism police units.

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According to a recent study in the United States of what workers want most in terms of benefits. The fourth most sought after benefit is more vacation time. In 1995 more time off came in tenth place. In the U.S. the average employee has almost two weeks of vacation time per year. Compare this to many European countries for example where workers get ‘oodles and oodles ‘ of vacation days each year. However Europe’s’ sacred extended vacations may see some revision in the coming years. Beset by an unprecedented economic crisis, Germany for example is facing four million unemployed and an unemployment rate of 9%. The German government is facing increased pressure to do away with over regulation and decapitate it’s huge social welfare system which is draining vital resources - this will open up the economy to more free market influences in order to increase productivity, and what better way then to revise it’s system of marathon vacations for workers.

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Did you know that in the last four years some 600,000 Central Americans were deported from Mexico. Last year alone, it is estimated that one million immigrants crossed the 1,000 km southern border which Mexico shares with Guatemala.

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And don’t forget, December is party month in Copan Ruinas. On the agenda are the two annual gastronomic street festivals, the annual lighting of the Central Park as well as the first annual crafts fair. You can e-mail me for dates.

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Looking for an out of the way to spend a winter holiday. well here’s a suggestion ... and I’m not going to charge a $275 p/p consulting fee! Guanaja has miles of un-explored and un-trampled coastline and reef to discover. There are just a few resorts spread out along the rugged coastline and even fewer roads, in fact to be more precise, there are no roads on the island, all transport is via small sea launches. The diving is some of the best and most pristine to be found anywhere in the Western Caribbean. As to accommodations, I recommend the End of The World Resort which offers up comfy hillside cabañas, a beachfront bar/restaurant, slick sea kayaks and downright awesome diving. All served up by proprietor Brian and his lovely Miskita wife. Info at: www.guanaja.com

For those really looking to get away from it all I recommend West Peak Inn which is situated at the very tip of Guanaja’s West End Beach. West Peak specializes in rustic accommodations and sea kayak trips.

And while you’re diving Guanaja don’t forget to check out Honduras’ newest museum - the Mestizo Reef Underwater Museum - it’s definitely one of a kind!

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Monday, November 18, 2002 Online Edition 44

For a tropical blast of fun, come to Honduras’ Rome

Palma Real Beach Resort in La Ceiba offers fun, pleasure and relaxing activities for the entire family under an irrestible all included system.

By SUYAPA CARIAS

LA CEIBA — While traveling in Latin America, tourists now have the option of visiting Rome without even leaving the continent, and of having the best of times. The Barcelo Palma Real Beach and Palma Real Garden resorts, located on the Honduran Caribbean coast, will take care of everything.

Located at Playa Roma (Rome Beach), in the community of Jutiapa, just 25 km from the city of La Ceiba, this new two-in-one tourist facility has become an ideal refuge for those who are looking for a full, fun, tropical vacation.

Ana Flores and author, Suyapa Carias enjoy mini golf course and lovely landscapes.

As in Barceló hotels throughout the world, both Palm Real resorts offer the all-included system, with a range of fun, relaxing and adventurous options for the whole family to enjoy, from delicious buffet food and tasty piña coladas, to beach games, comic theater plays and dance shows.

Pleasant journey
The pleasure begins upon arrival at the hotel’s entrance where yellow, bell-shaped flowers and small palms dominate the garden. Don’t be surprised if a trio of hosts dressed up in extravagant disguises approach you for an unusual welcome.

Bright colored walls; wicker furniture and large paintings decorate the two-floor buildings with 161 rooms available to the public. Three inviting swimming pools lay between the Palma Real Beach lobby and the building hosting the “Las Ranitas” Wet Bar, the business center, and the snack bar on the first floor.

The second floor contains a convention and special events center, a casino and a disco. A few steps away, the beach is all yours. A special area has been designated for kids to play safely in the sand.

A range of entertaining activities is programmed every single day of the week, to make sure no one gets bored. Soccer matches, dance lessons and children’s games are some of the options guests can choose from. Others prefer to spend the morning at the mini-golf court built along the pool, then get some sun in the afternoon and wind up the day on a hammock by the sea.

Nearby attractions
After dawn, dinner is served at both Beach and Garden resorts buffet restaurants, but if you want something more special, you can also make arrangements to be served “A La Carte” at a cozy restaurant located at the Garden resort. Night action starts at 8:30 p.m. with a show for the little ones at the Garden’s Hola Ola theater, followed by another show for grown-ups where fantasy, music and comedy get together in one great, unforgettable performance by the hotels’ own artists.

Despite the busy agenda one may have inside the hotels, tourists must take time to experience a personal encounter with at least one of the natural treasures surrounding the place. We refer to a walk in the majestic Pico Bonito National Park, which stands just a few kilometers away, a tour the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, a raft ride down the Cangrejal river or a visit to the Cayos Cochinos biological reserve off the coast.

The whole adventure is definitely worthwhile whether you are traveling alone, with your loved one, friends or the entire family.

For information about fees and other details, call Barcelo Palma Real at 429-0500, Fax 429-0508, e-mail: barcelopalmareal@caribe.hn. The web address is www.Barcelo.

Roatan, the Bay Islands, the jewel of the Caribbean

A native islander blows a conch shell melody for enchanted tourists on cruise ships.

By JEANINE PADILLA

To get away from everyday responsibility and stress is one of biggest desires of most individuals who are committed to city life. The thought of walking away and enjoying nature’s beauty and the consequent sense of well being becomes more appealing towards the end of a week or at the end of a continuous and extended period of work. Deciding where to go might involve some time and thinking, but if nature, fun and taste are your objectives for a short or long vacation, there is no doubt, the island of Roatan is the best choice to fulfill this desire.

Roatan offers tourists a vast list of places to visit and activities. National and international food, rustic, modern and sophisticated hotels and resorts to suit the taste, needs and budget of everyone can be found on the island. Language is never a problem, even though Spanish is the official language of Honduras, the predominant language is English and Italian has become very important over the last few years due to the large and constant influx of Italians to the island. In some places, even French is spoken.

Roatan is the largest of eight islands in the Caribbean that are collectively known as Islas de la Bahia or the Bay Islands of Honduras, it measures almost 40 miles in length and has a landmass of 49 square miles. Paya Indians influenced island heritage during the Mayan reign and then later by Spanish conquerors and British pirates fought over government of this paradise for almost two hundred years. It for it was ideal for food and wood supply, safe harbor and the slave trade. The island remained as an old British fort and some towns were named after famous pirates that have remained a part of local lore.

The special touch of Roatan is highly accentuated by the different personalities of the people that live there. The Caracoles (natives of Roatan) have a charming and enchanting way of capturing one’s heart. It is amazing to see people that once were simple visitors have now become part of the Caracol world and have been accepted as they are, each in their own way.

The natural beauty of the island makes Roatan a unique place in the world to live, visit or invest.

All city inhabitants in the world look forward to long weekends or vacation time to have a pleasant and unforgettable time whether by themselves or with loved ones. Roatan has everything a person would want to have in their vacation. It’s environment and the atmosphere invites you to stay forever.

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Copan Update
By HOWARD ROSENZWEIG

A few weeks ago in this column I made mention of the fact that of all the regions around the globe, the area that is probably least affected by the recent surge in terrorism is Latin America. In spite of all the other problems that we have to deal with here - at least religious terror is not one of them. As a result of the relative calm that prevails in Latin America and the Caribbean, tourism has not been overly affected. Other destinations, especially those tourism hot spots located in conflicted regions of the world where attacks have taken place, have seen their tourism dependent economies seriously affected.

Take Egypt as a case in point. Five years ago 58 Swiss, Japanese and British tourists were killed by Islamic fundamentalist attackers at one of Egypt’s’ premier tourist attractions, the ruins at Luxor. In the years following the attack, the government took strong measures to beef up security for tourists and cracked down on extremist Islamic groups - and correspondingly tourism recovered. In Egypt, tourism accounts for some 12% of the economy and 1 in 7 jobs. But after Sept 1, the war in Afghanistan, uncertainty over Iraq and the Arab - Israeli conflict, tourism has plunged again. In 2000, 5.4 million people visited Egypt and accounted for $4.3 billion in revenues. By 2001 tourism revenues plummeted. Recently Bali was the victim of a horrendous disco bombing where some 200 tourists – the majority Australians were killed. Bali, which is dependent on tourism, is now facing serious economic problems as a result of the attack.

As the list of ‘off limits’ nations due to terrorism continues to grow, the number of countries considered safe gets smaller. Luckily for us, our part of the world; Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America should see healthy growth in tourism in the near term as European, US, Canadian, Japanese and Australian tourists opt for a couple of weeks holiday in Latin America as opposed to other more ‘ high threat ‘ destinations.

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When one thinks of well preserved colonial cities in Central America, what towns come to mind ... Antigua, Guatemala, Leon and Granada in Nicaragua are three of the most likely candidates. Well now you can add two Honduran towns to that select list; Comayagua and Santa Rosa de Copan.

The Municipality of Santa Rosa de Copan signed an agreement with the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History and the United Nations to preserve the historic downtown. In addition to remodeling and reconstructing historic structures, a palette of colors was selected with emphasis on naturally derived colors that existed years ago. As well, signage rules were enacted with an emphasis on removing modern signs and replacing them with historically appropriate ones.

Comayagua, a colonial gem in the rough, has also received a major makeover with the assistance of the government of Spain. One town that pops to mind that is in desperate need of comprehensive zoning, construction, signage and architectural and public space regulations is Copan Ruinas where currently a ‘hands-off. anything-goes’ policy insures that development is neither historically, architecturally nor esthetically correct.

Bay Islands celebrate Thanksgiving

By SANDRA SAMPAYO

ROATAN — Come November 21, the following hotels and restaurants on Roatan Island, will be offering a mouthwatering array of sumptuous Thanksgiving specials, guaranteed to tempt every palette.

People interested in visiting the islands will be able to gather more information on places to stay, things to do and general visitor information from www.bayislandstourism.com, the Bay Islands website dedicated to proving visitors with all the information they need to make their stay on the islands unforgettable.

For more information, please contact Bay Islands Marketing at +504 455-5841 or email, info@bayislandstourism.com.

Restaurant — The Hummingbird Bar & Grill

Address: Tropical Beach Resort, Oakridge, Contact: 435-2725 or rodjean@aol.com,
Time: From 12:00 to 19:00 Includes: One glass of champagne mimosa, salad, coconut buns with honey butter, roast turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, fruit salad, pumpkin or key lime pie ala mode and cream caramel, French vanilla or English toffee cappuccino. Price: US $10.00 or L167, Including tip & tax RSVP by: 22 November

Restaurant — Deep Ted’s
Bar & Grille

Address: Bay Islands Beach Resort, Sandy Bay, Telephone: 445-1427 or bislands@hondutel.hn Time: Dinner Includes: Roast turkey, potatoes, vegetables, delicious soup, a variety of pies, fresh salad, bread and tea & coffee. Price: US $18 RSVP by: Please call or email as soon as possible. Additional special on rooms: Room with 3 meals/day: $85 pp per day, Room w/ food and diving: $95 pp per day, w/ 15% discount for Hondurans

Restaurant — Roatan’s
Dive & Yacht Club

Address: French Harbour, Telephone: 455-5407 or mh@roatanyachtclub.com Time: 12h00 to 21h00 Includes: One glass of champagne mimosa, mixed greens salad, roast Butterball turkey, giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, glazed sweet potatoes, fresh green beans, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream. Price: US $15 or L250, including tip & tax RSVP by: As soon as possible

Restaurant — Inn
of Last Resort

Address: Gibson Bight Telephone: 445-1838 or lastresort@globalnet.hn (fax 445-1903)
Time: Dinner 19h00 Includes: Creamy onion soup, Waldorf salad, roast turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, peas and carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin or apple pie. Price: US $15 (plus drinks and tax) RSVP by: Please book by November 26

Restaurant — Raul’s
Bar & Grill

Address: Executive Inn, Mount Pleasant, Los Fuertes Telephone: 455-5658 or executiveinn@globalnet.hn Time: Dinner Includes: Lobster or shrimp plate with salad, garnish and a glass of wine. Price: US $20 (includes tax and tips) RSVP by: Please book as soon as possible

Monday, November 11, 2002 Online Edition 43

Copan Update
By HOWARD ROSENZWEIG

How about we start off this week with some good news for the tourism sector. Starting this month two new cruise ship lines will be calling on Roatan using it’s newly enlarged cruise ship pier which was recently built by the government at a cost of Lps 40 million. Clipper Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean will be bringing in bigger ships thanks to the new pier. Previously the pier had a capacity of ships no more than 36,000 tons - now ships up to 80,000 tons can dock.

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Did you know, 94% of deposits in Honduran banks belongs to a mere 6% of the population.

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For those world travelers who think they’ve seen everything, Restaurante Carnitas Nia Lola in Copan Ruinas has something that nobody and I mean nobody else has, a flying pig, that’s right, a flying pig! A few feet above the bar sits the diminutive “Eugenia” as the pig is commonly known around these parts. Ask owner Tono to let her out of her holding pen for a whirl - you’ll be mighty surprised with the dexterity and aerodynamics that can be displayed by a common, everyday piglet!

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Maquilas to the rescue, the maquila sector which produces and assembles clothing for export to the US is now the number one source of bucks for the Honduran economy. It is estimated that that the maquila sector will bring in some $730 million this year, surpassing money sent back by Hondurans living in the US. The establishment of full pack maquila production, which means that all the products that go into the production such as fabric, dying, packaging are all done in Honduras has led to an increase in profits. Some 100,000 plus workers, the majority women work in the maquila sector which is centered in the Sula Valley.

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Latin America is considered at this time the area of the world with the least risk for Islamic terrorist attacks. Maybe that’s one small reason why tourism is up this year in Honduras.

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Ever wonder why crime, especially in the larger cities seems to get worse and worse, well one reason has to do with the lack of police infrastructure and hardware. In San Pedro Sula for example, with a population of over 1/2 million, the police have 65 vehicles of which 25 are in the shop in various states of repair, 21 are no longer repairable and only 30 are operational. The National Police in San Pedro Sula have 926 agents which includes Transit Police and the Cobra SWAT Team. According to a United Nations study, San Pedro should have some 5,000 police to provide a minimum level of security. Two of the poorest and most dangerous areas of the city; Chamelecon and Rivera Hernandez which comprise some 80 neighborhoods, only have four patrol cars assigned. According to police, the average life of a patrol car is a scant two years. As well 60% of police on foot patrol have no radio communication and on any given day, 5% of officers are out sick or on vacation. The investigative police or detectives are in similarly precarious circumstances. The Sula Valley where some 1.5 million people live, only has eight detectives.

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Looking for a date or to find that someone special, well through the power of the internet one can now surf the web and scroll through files of pictures and basic data on hundreds of Honduran women who are looking to find a mate. The web site offers a wide range of products enabling visitors to write directly to the girls, send gifts such as flowers and eventually set up a face to face meeting or even a guided tour/date of the country. For info: www.girlsofhonduras.com

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San Pedro Sula now has a hotel school which is up and running. The school has received support from the European Community, the Municipality of San Pedro Sula as well as the national government. Students will be able to specialize in one of three areas; kitchen, bar/restaurant and lodging and reception. The course lasts one year with eight hours a day of classes. The school is located just behind the unfinished Children’s Museum.

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La Ceiba now has a contingent of Tourism Police, it is the second city to host the newly created police force. The Tourism Police is also slated to head to San Pedro Sula and Copan Ruinas in the near future.

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Monday, November 4, 2002 Online Edition 42

Copan Update
By HOWARD ROSENZWEIG

Ever wonder how demographics shape the tourism sector in Honduras and Copan Ruinas in particular, well here are a few stats and observations to give you a taste. At last count Honduras in 2001 had a population of 6.5 million. The two most populous departments are Francisco Morazan (population 1.2 million) - where the capital Tegucigalpa is located and the department of Cortes (population 1.2 million) where San Pedro Sula is situated. Thus approximately a third of the entire population lives in these two departments. Honduras sits in fourth place amongst Latin American nations in population growth, with a growth rate of 2.6% annually. By 2015 it is projected that the population of the country will hit 9 million, an increase of 31% over 2001.

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Now how this growth will affect tourism in Copan. San Pedro Sula, which will soon be the nations largest city, is only a three-hour drive to Copan on an excellent road. San Pedro Sula is also the nations economic motor, most of the country’s export and manufacturing sector is located there, so prosperous Sampedranos seek to get away in droves for vacations and weekends. In addition San Pedro’s geographic location - extremely hot and humid - means that residents look to get away on weekends to beat the heat. Copan fits the bill nicely; close enough to drive or hop a luxury bus and boasting cool mountain temperatures, Copan Ruinas touts a downright refreshing and near perfect average annual temperature of 78F.

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Looking a bit beyond the borders of Honduras, Guatemala today plays a very important role in Copan tourism and will play an increasingly significant role in the future. At the present time the number of Guatemalans visiting Copan is not great, however large numbers of foreign tourists, mostly from the United States and Europe enter Honduras via the Guatemalan-Honduran border at El Florido, a scant 12 kms. from Copan Ruinas. A brand new highway now links Honduras and Guatemala. However demographic changes in the capital, will mean that by 2015 Guatemala City is projected to hit a population of 5.3 million, making it the most populated metropolis between Mexico City and Lima! What does that mean for tiny Copan Ruinas? Well plenty! Wealthy and middle class Guatemalans in search of a tranquil, relaxing and pollution free weekend will be heading to Copan in ever-greater numbers. Same holds true to residents of San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. El Salvador is one of the most densely populated nations on the globe and an increasingly well educated and widely traveled middle class and the wealthy are on the lookout for safe, peaceful destinations with plenty of wide open spaces which are within driving distance for a long weekend - and
Copan certainly fits the bill nicely.

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What does Copan need to do in order to prepare itself for the coming onslaught of local Central American tourism? Well plenty! One must take into account that there are plenty of other players out there that will vie for the local tourists business; Antigua, Panajachel, La Ceiba, Roatan, Montelimar, Cancun, even Miami, just to name a few. So Copan needs to get out there and market and promote itself as a destination, not just a place to pull in, grab a steak, trek the ruins, hunker down for a nights rest and then hightail it for the beach! Copan must market itself as a complete destination, where a family can easily unpack the suitcases and spend a good 3 or 4 nights. As well Copan needs to put some bucks into improving infrastructure to better and more comfortably host all those incoming tourists. Also Copan needs to improve and broaden it’s product line; Eco-tourism, birding, caving, coffee tourism, hacienda tourism, spa tourism, cultural tourism, all are promising niches to develop and explore by Copans’ private sector.

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In the not too distant future, weekend tourism will play a big role in Copan, as big city residents from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador load up the SUV or pile onto a 1st class bus to shed stress and relax. Many times when I am asked in Copan what day is it, I am more often than not at a loss for the answer, why? because up to now there are virtually no weekends, as foreign tourists are on vacation 24/7 and the influx of local tourists has been minimal - except on the occasional holiday weekend. However as the demographic landscape changes, I have the impression that in the future weekends in Copan will be easily identifiable due to the increased inbound traffic thanks to local tourism.

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