Honduran President Ricardo Maduro has announced
a new plan to invigorate tourism in Copan Ruinas - the
principal center of Mayan art, sculpture and science in Central
America.
The strategic initiative, a joint program with the Tourism
Ministry and the private sector, emphasizes community participation
and includes plans for urban development, clarification of
land ownership, zoning in its historical downtown, and the
restoration of public buildings. It will also improve several
of the area’s tourism corridors, complete the pavement
of the Guatemalan border highway (Copan-El Florido), increase
the number of phone lines in town, improve the El Florido
customs office, create an information center, modify daily
hours for tourist services and train local authorities in
meeting the special needs of tourists.
Plans also include development of the Las Sepulturas archaeological
site and its incorporation into the main park, the excavation
of the Rio Amarillo site, and the preliminary design, economic
analysis and feasibility study for an airport in nearby Rio
Amarillo - a site chosen for its proximity and technical
characteristics by experts from the Interamerican Development
Bank (IDB).
