Under construction and with an investment of $30 million, the Banana Coast will receive its first ship loaded with tourists on November 18, 2014.
$30 million is being invested in the dock located in the Bay of Trujillo, Colón department, the first cruise port on the mainland in the country.
"Estimates by the Honduran Institute of Tourism (IHT), indicate that the economic impact of the cruise port will be significant as the average value per passenger disembarking has been calculated as between $70 and $100", reported Revistamyt.com.
Most cruise ships arriving in Central America have to operate at docks designed for cargo handling, and as such are not fit for passenger traffic.
Richard Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA, noted that one of the main issues is having suitable docks so that cruise ships can dock directly, instead of using small boats to unload passengers in groups, as this causes many delays.
The momentum in this sector needs more services and port infrastructure in order to consolidate and join the global growth of this industry.
The region needs to improve port infrastructure in order to be able to receive the new boats which are becoming bigger and bigger and with this take advantage of the 20% growth that is projected in the next season.
The Central American countries are positioning as a destination for the major cruise ship companies.
Central America prepares its infrastructure to support an increased number of lines coming to its main ports.
Madrid, April 2nd, 2012.
The seven countries of the region (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) are one of the most attractive destinations for cruise passengers.
The Port of Amapala could become a shipping center for cruise passengers, said the Honduran Minister of Tourism.
A press release from the Ministry of Tourism of Honduras states:
The Port of Amapala could become a shipping center for cruise passengers, reported the Honduran Minister of Tourism Nelly Jerez after a tour of the zone by the executives and the president of the Federation of Cruise Lines in Florida and the Caribbean FCCA, Michele Paige.
The deep water dock will enable more tourists to visit locations in La Ceiba, Tela, San Pedro Sula, Lago de Yojoa and other regions in the north of the country.
The works, which will cost between $10 and $15 million, will be carried out by way of a public-private partnership (PPP) with joint participation of the Honduran government and private companies that have expressed an interest in the project.
The ministers of tourism and major cruise lines agreed to explore a new route for CA, departing from Panama.
During the last Conference Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), held in late October in the Dominican Republic, tourism authorities agreed not to set high taxes on cruise ships and in turn cruise lines will develop itineraries.
"... The Government had plans to build a port in the Pacific, it was not a priority until now by expediting the process to begin construction, which will require a $ 20 million investment," published Prensa.com.
The Roatán cruise terminal and marina has announced investment in the second stage of its Town Center project.
The project comprises the expansion of the existing facilities and the construction of a shopping and entertainment center.
Álvaro Durón, manager of the company owning the marina and cruise terminal on the the largest of Honduras' Bay Islands, told Elheraldo.hn that, "the expansion of the pier will qualify the port as one of the few in the Caribbean and the only one in Central America capable of receiving the world's largest cruise liners carrying up to 6,000 passengers".
Carnival Corporation's $70 million cruise ship pier was inaugurated in Mahony Bay.
With the new facility, the company can accommodate two 4.500 passenger ships simultaneously.
Ana Abarca, Tourism Minister, told Laprensahn.com: "...if Carnival's projections prove correct, we will receive some 500.000 tourists from cruise ships. This would imply sales for $850 million, as every tourist spends an average $107 in the country".
With an investment of $70 million, the construction of the Carnival’s cruise terminal on the island of Roatán is 80% complete.
The developers of Carnival’s pier hope to finish the Project by September.
According to Laprensahn.com, “The Project–which covers 75,000 square feet, includes a commercial area being built to quality specifications that enable it to withstand earthquakes and hurricanes-was visited by international representatives of the cruise industry that have been on the island since the weekend with the purpose of attending the meeting of the Federation of Cruise Lines of the Caribbean and Florida, FCCA.