16 Jun / 2004

For the first time in Honduras since the Grupo Consultivo began debating topics that are priority in terms of national development, the role of tourism as a pillar for economic growth has been included in the group's agenda.

The Grupo Consultivo is scheduled to meet June 10 and 11 in Tegucigalpa . There, Tourism Minister Thierry Pierrefeu will give a presentation titled "The Sustainable Tourism Option," where he will emphasize the benefits obtained by communities that have embraced tourism projects in which sustainability plays a fundamental role. He will also illustrate the link between tourism and other sectors that are important to the country's development, including the economy, the environment, health, education and the sector's direct impact on society and culture.

By the year 2021, Honduras hopes to reach a series of long-term goals for the development of its tourism industry. These goals include the diversification of markets, products and destinations. In order for these goals to be reached, it is essential that tourism be recognized as a key player in the country's economic development. It must also be understood that for tourism to thrive, the country's environmental, social and cultural surroundings must be valued and protected and must contribute to strengthening a sense of national identity.

Under Pierrefeu, the Tourism Ministry has defined a plan of action aimed at taking advantage of thee high potential of the tourism sector by creating a series of national strategies to encourage balanced, sustainable and responsible growth while creating new jobs, increasing foreign revenue and promoting local and regional development.

The primary goal of the Grupo Consultivo is to support national development in Honduras based on the Stockholm Principles and the Strategy for Reducing Poverty and Millennium Goals. Since its creation the group has backed priorities and objectives set forth by the national government. It will continue to promote the key strategic axes as set by former administrations, focusing on the following areas:

•  Reforms in the areas of justice, human rights and anti-violence efforts

•  Development of measures to combat corruption and support transparency

•  Promotion of equal economic growth, the strengthening of competitiveness and the regional economic integration process

•  Modernization of the state, decentralization and reforms to civil service

These axes are all set within a framework of coordination and harmonization among players in order to prevent duplicated efforts, contradictions and over-intervention.

The primary purpose of the Grupo Consultivo has been to follow up on the reconstruction process and aid in the transformation of the country as laid out in the Master Plan for Reconstruction and National Transformation, which defines the country's plan to reactivate the economy, combat poverty, promote human development, reduce vulnerability and increase democratic participation. Since its creation, the Grupo Consultivo has laid a foundation for ongoing cooperation with the Honduran government and civil society, contributing to the preparation and implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy and supporting its follow-up.

Grupo Consultivo Meetings Held

• First Grupo Consultivo Meeting for the Reconstruction and Transformation of Central America . December 10 and 11, 1998 at the headquarters of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Washington , D.C.
• Second Grupo Consultivo Meeting. May 25-28, 1999 , in Stockholm.
• Third Grupo Consultivo Meeting. February 7 and 8, 2000, in Tegucigalpa .
• Fourth Grupo Consultivo Meeting. October 2002, Tegucigalpa.
• Fifth Grupo Consultivo Meeting. June 10 and 11, 2004, in Tegucigalpa.