The 20% growth rate enjoyed by the tourism
industry in 2002 translates into a total of 800,000 visitors
and a preliminary estimate of $350 million in tourism revenue
for the national economy.
Not only did more tourists visit Honduras in 2002, they also
tended to spend more money during their stay. On average,
tourists spent $750.17, up substantially over 2001’s
$530.20.
Over the last five years, tourism in Honduras has grown 15.5%,
despite the tragedies of Hurricane Mitch and September 11th.
The growth total for 2001 was 10%, for an annual revenue total
of $274.6 million. By the end of President Maduro’s
term in office, the total number of tourists visiting Honduras
is expected to reach one million with total revenues at $500
million.
Meanwhile, the countries of Central America have continued
working together to promote the region as a whole to foreign
tourists. The Central American Tourism Promotion Agency (CATA)
is now fully operational in Madrid, promoting tourism to Central
America among both European and Asian travelers. The CATA,
an idea launched by Honduras, was agreed upon last year by
the Tourism Ministers of each of the participating countries.
Additional regional efforts have led to the creation of an
official marketing slogan: “Central America: so small…
so great.”
In 2003, the Tela Bay project is expected to lay its first
stone, after 10 years of preparation and planning. This $140
million project has been made a top priority. When completed
it will be a major magnet for tourism in Honduras and the
wider Central American region. Locally it will serve as a
mainland springboard for trips to other smaller poles of development
like the Bay Islands, Copan and the Omoa-Trujillo corridor.
