A group of travel agents and tour operators
from Israel visited Honduras for a week in late October as part
of a joint initiative by the Honduran Ministry of Tourism and
the Honduran Embassy in Israel to encourage Israeli tourists
to come and explore Honduras.
The trip, which featured stops at the country’s main
tourist destinations, also included meetings with business
leaders and the Chambers of Tourism of Roatán, La Ceiba,
Copan Ruinas and other cities. Participants also met with
representatives of the Honduran National Chamber of Tourism
(CANATURH) and the Tourism Ministry. There they were informed
about the country’s tourism investment market, advertising
opportunities and other advantages to traveling in Honduras.
Participants Tomer Sar Tov, Dov Lenz, Ido Ovadia, Yona Lea
Horowitz and Hugo Hurevich, all of whom have lengthy experience
in promoting international tourism, enjoyed a first-hand look
at the country’s primary tourist attractions and explored
the country’s numerous opportunities for promoting tourism
here.
The visit was part of a series of activities that began in
February and included a visit to Tel Aviv in May by representatives
from the Honduran Ministry of Tourism. There they presented
local tour operators and members of the Federation of Israeli
Chambers of Commerce with a workshop on the facilities and
attractions available to tourists in Honduras.
Tourism Minister Thierry de Pierrefeu called the initiative
an excellent opportunity to open Honduras to a wider slice
of foreign tourists. “The fact that the first visitors
from the Holy Land are already preparing to come in March
will both favor and strengthen the national economy,”
he said.
The Middle East is known worldwide for it excellence in cultural
and religious tourism. Israel alone welcomes 5 million visitors
and generates $5 billion in tourism revenues per year.
