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.
Along with construction of a cruise terminal, there are also housing projects.
The residential projects, among them Alta Vista Beach, are being developed by Desarrollos Vision de Vista.
This project, as well as the Banana Coast cruise terminal, which is developed by "Grande Trujillo Autoridad", is sponsored by the Canadian company Fast Track Capital.
During the month of March 47 cruise ships with more than a hundred thousand tourists are expected.
Mahogany Bay expects 31 cruise ships with 77 thousand passengers and Roatan expects 16 cruise ships with 40 thousand passengers.
"Estimations say that each person leaving the ship spends $ 100 a day on average. Peak tourist season began last November and should end in April," reported Laprensa.hn.
The country hopes for this 2010-2011 season a $ 110 million income in foreign currency.
Estimates by the Panama Tourism Authority (PTA) took into account the arrival at Colon Port of some 185 cruise ships with approximately 320,000 passengers.
"Studies of the ATP and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, estimate that the average spending of cruise tourists is $ 90 per day.
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.
A new Royal Caribbean cruise will depart on Sundays from the terminal in Colon.
This is the Grandeur of the Seas, which will begin a schedule of 20 departures every day starting Sunday April 24th.
"Eliany Caballero, Panamanian company Grand Tour which represents the cruise line, said they now have 3-years experience in the operation of the Home Port," Pa-Digital.com.pa published.
The suspension of the tax was made official on Tuesday by Congressional act.
Representatives of the Guatemalan Association of Cruise Tourism and the Institute of Tourism saw the move as positive to improve their competitiveness with other destinations.
Leonel Azurdia of the Association of Cruise Tourism, told Prensalibre.com that "the suspension of the tax, which was formalized last Tuesday by a congressional, gives legal certainty to attract more ships."
Estimates for the new cruise season, which starts on September 29, contemplates 32% less arrivals.
One reason for this low arrival rate could be blamed on the failure of Congress to reform the Organic Law of the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT), which would eliminate the current tax of $ 10 charged to each cruise passenger.
On the subject, news portal Newsinamerica.com published comments from Karina Velasquez, Manager of Social Communication at INGUAT, "The cruise lines call to learn about current status of the country and benefits in docking here, but the news is not good at all because of the imposed tax to tourists.”
During the next season that starts in October 15, 180 cruise ships will anchor in the Colon 2000 terminal.
For the current nine-month season (October-10 June-11) two cruise ships will depart from this terminal: the Ocean Dream, by Spanish company Pullmantur, and the Grandeur of the Seas, by Royal Caribbean.
"It is foreseen that 85 thousand passengers (mostly foreigners) will depart from the Colón terminal.
Despite the government committing to get rid of the $10 tax per cruise ship passenger, it still remains in force with the beginning of the season just 27 days away.
The first boat with tourists, of a total of 62, is scheduled to arrive on 29 September and the sector's businesses are concerned that the $10 tax will not be abolished in time.
In May the government promised the leaders of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) that the tax would be eliminated.
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".
The current cruise season concluded in Marina Isla de Flamenco, Amador, with 22 more vessels than the previous one.
A total 57 cruise ships docked at the port, carrying 59.386 passengers, 27.868 more than in the previous season.
“Adaris Romero, marketing chief, explained that Marina Isla de Flamenco turned out to be a key port in the route linking Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with Los Angeles, California”.
“Ocean Dream”, a cruise ship owned by Spanish company Pullmantur, will depart from the port of Colón every Friday.
Between October 2010 and June 2011, the vessel will depart from Colón and visit Cartagena, Sta. Marta, Aruba, Curazao and La Guaria, returning to Colón afterwards.
Pullmantur is aiming for the Latin American market, offering an “all-inclusive” service.
After meeting with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, the Government committed to eliminate a $10 tax charged to cruise ship passengers.
Roberto Alejos, President of the Congress, explained that on Thursday they will introduce an urgent process to suspend this tax.
Representatives from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), composed of 15 cruise lines which operate over 100 vessels, visited Guatemala and met with President Alvaro Colom.
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