The Honduras Institute of Tourism and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation reactivate the COLOSUCA region

April 27, 2010

The Honduras Institute of Tourism (IHT) and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) have established a strategic alliance to support and unite the Federation of Lenca Municipalities of the Department of Lempira (COLOSUCA, www.colosuca.com).

The launch of this strategic alliance was attended by: President of the National Congress, Juan Orlando Hernandez; designated presidential representatives Maria Antonieta de Bogran, Victor Barnica and Samuel Reyes; Secretary of Tourism, Dr. Nelly Jerez; civil servants; tour operators; and other special guests. During the ceremony to acknowledge the pact to stimulate tourism in the COLOSUCA region, Dr. Jerez encouraged tour operators to promote the easily accessible region with packages for both national and foreign visitors.

President of COLOSUCA, Javier Enamorado, was thankful for the support received from the National Congress and the Institute of Tourism for the tourism development of the region. Enamorado also called upon all Hondurans to visit the municipalities of the COLOSUCA region.

COLOSUCA includes the municipalities of San Sebastián, San Manuel Colohete, San Marcos de Caiquín, La Campa, Gracias and Belén. The development of sustainable rural tourism in this region is an effective way to improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. The “COLOSUCA Tourism Circuit” project hopes to reduce the high levels of poverty that reign in the Lenca communities in this western region of Honduras.

AECI and the IHT have identified the COLOSUCA Tourism Circuit as one of the potential major development areas for ecological and adventure tourism. The region is rich with culture and is home to Celaque National Park, which features the highest peak in Honduras.

From the Celaque Mountain Range, 11 rivers are born vertically – making it resemble a “water volcano”. The mountain range is also home to more than 230 species of plants, 45 species of mammals and 269 species of birds, several of them in danger of extinction at the worldwide level.

The city of Gracias was home to the first Central America Court of Justice and many other historical sites of great interest, such as several Baroque-style churches. 6km from Gracias are the Aguas Termales, natural hot water swimming pools that bring about a sense of wellbeing and peace.

As an important part of the tourism sector, the COLOSUCA project will start with initiatives that favor rural tourism in areas of high patrimonial value, culture and nature. COLOSUCA is home to ideal conditions necessary for the development of sustainable tourism, and will be modeled after the already established Lenca Trail, a great example of the molding of integrity, coherence and regional appreciation of natural resources and the Lenca culture. The COLOSUCA project will also contribute to the reduction of the inequality between men and women, providing women a role in social and community progress.

The vision of COLOSUCA is to be supported by the local sectors and civil society in order to obtain sustainable advances that make rational use of the resources of the region. It will also promote, manage and execute a plan with ample participation of the local and member governments of the communities.