Following peaceful presidential elections, Honduras tourism shows signs of bouncing back w/ aggressive sales & incredible deals

December 8, 2009

On Sunday, November 29, the Honduran people peacefully elected their new president – Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo, who will take office on January 27, 2010. The United States and other countries have already expressed their recognition of President-Elect Lobo. Wholesalers have looked to the elections as a positive sign and are once again aggressively selling the destination. Tourism sales have already seen a dramatic increase as the Canadian charter season begins in mid-December, and the country’s high season is around the corner with discounted rates. In addition, visitors are now reassured of the typical welcoming conditions in the country, leaving them without doubts to plan their next vacation in the near future.

Throughout the summer, airlines and cruise ships continued to operate their services as normal. In fact, some airlines added service and cruise arrivals increased over the same period in 2008. Just last month, the new $62 million Mahogany Bay cruise terminal in Roatán, owned by Carnival Cruise Lines, welcomed its first passengers to the unique facility that incorporates 20 acres of waterfront property and includes a two-berth cruise terminal which can accommodate up to 8,000 passengers daily.

The most popular tourist areas in Honduras include: The Bay Islands (Roatán, Utila, Guanaja and Cayos Cochinos), located in the Caribbean Sea, with adventures both above and below the water; the northern coast cities of La Ceiba and Tela, offering a plethora of eco-activities; and Copán Ruinas, the charming town nestled in the western highlands, boasting the most artistically significant ruins in the Maya world.

Honduras is located in the heart of Central America, encompassing over 43,000 square miles, making it about the size of Tennessee. It is only a short flight from the U.S.: two hours from Miami or less than three hours from Houston or Atlanta. Honduras features a 500-mile Caribbean coastline on its north and a 100-mile Pacific coastline on its south. Honduras borders on the west with Guatemala, the southwest with El Salvador, and on the east with Nicaragua.

For more information regarding special hotel rates and tour operator packages, travelers can call 1-800-410-9608 or visit www.letsgohonduras.com. To view a variety of videos of Honduras, visit www.youtube.com/user/letsgohonduras. You can also become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/visithonduras.

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Media Contact:

Amanda Jackson

Ypartnership

407.838.1812

amanda.jackson@ypartnership.com