The government has authorized, for 30 years, the granting of a concession for a tourist route made up of the stretches of road between El Progreso-Tela, San Pedro Sula-El Progreso and La Barca–El Progreso.
By issuance of a decree, the Commission for the Promotion of Public-Private Partnerships and the Department of Public Works, Transport and Housing have been authorized to sign with the company Autopistas del Atlántico a concession for the tourist corridor.
The Honduran Foreign Secretary, within the Program for Support and Investment of Promotion, is putting out to tender prefeasibility studies for three tourism projects.
The tourism projects for which the studies are required are:
Project "TUR 202: construction of SAVE Center in La Ceiba, Atlantida"
The project located in the Municipality of Ceiba, Atlantida Department, is for the creation of a center containing facilities that aid the development of scientific, academic, educational and volunteer work in the Pico Bonito National Park.
The financing has been assured by the Inter-American Development Bank, but the construction works that would increase the influx of international tourism by 20% are still awaiting a political decision.
IDB funds of $6.3 million, the land and the plans are all available, the only thing lacking is the political will to build it.
The president of the National Chamber of Tourism in Honduras (CANATURH), Epaminondas Marinakys together with a Spanish expert in tourism have met with the Finance Minister who promised to carry out the project, adding "even if it is late, it has to be done" .
It is very difficult to understand as reasonable the Costa Rican Comptroller's annulment of the award for a Convention Centre by the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.
EDITORIAL
An article in Elfinancierocr.com reviews the details of a situation that is being repeated ad nauseum in most Central American countries, namely the difficulty of awarding important public works contracts with a minimum of speed and efficiency.
The Trujillo Beach Eco-Development has been announced, with an investment of $50 million in an 600 hectare area which will feature residences for Canadian and Israeli citizens, in the form of condominiums and a hotel.
To date 40% of the total planned cost has been invested, which is $50 million. The "Trujillo Beach Eco-Development" project will be developed in a 600 hectare area in the area of Viejo Marañones, in the vicinity of Lake Guaymoreto.
The Colombian Decameron Group is expanding its investments in Latin America in 2012, including the opening of two hotels in Costa Rica and one in Panama.
In Costa Rica, Decameron will open this year a 330-room Royal Decameron Irazu in San Jose, and one in Jaco Beach, with 130 rooms.
"In April, they will open the first Hard Rock hotel in Central and South America, which will be located in Panama and will have 1,463 rooms.
The company Aeropuertos de Honduras has announced an investment of $52 million into expanding and remodeling four international terminals.
Fredy Nasser, president of Aeropuertos de Honduras, said that the works will be carried out at the airports of Toncontín in Tegucigalpa, Goloson in La Ceiba, Juan Manuel Galvez in Roatan, and San Pedro Sula.
The former president of the Cortes Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIC), Oscar Galeano, told Latribuna.hn "the investment in the international airport in San Pedro Sula, will cover the purchase and acquisition of technology for the operation of the flights, air conditioning improvements, expansion of the terminal and the installation of three additional walkways, among other improvements. "
Balboa Bank & Trust, will support the Micos Beach & Golf Resort tourism project providing a loan for $2.5 million.
Diana Villeda, chief financial officer of Tela Bay Tourist Development (DTBT in Spanish) announced that an amendment will be made to the syndicated loan agreement, integrating this contribution and bringing the total credit to $26 million.
With the first payout of a $15.9 million from a syndicated loan worth $24 million, construction of the second stage of the tourism project in Honduras will begin.
The banks, Ficohsa, BAC Honduras, Ficensa, Rural Development Bank in Guatemala and Panama's Banco Pichincha had already approved a syndicated loan of $24 million to finance the tourism project.
The touristic development, to be located in the Tela Bay, finally landed funding from 5 financial institutions.
Ficohsa, BAC Honduras, Ficensa, Guatemala's "Banco de Desarrollo Rural" and Panama's "Banco Pichincha" approved a $24 million structured credit to fund this initiative.
Javier Atala, manager of Ficohsa Bank, noted that this project will contribute to the tourism industry and will help promote Honduras as one of Central America's leading tourist destinations.
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.
Grand Cayman and China investors have expressed interest in investing in Puerto Castilla.
Among projects being studied is the construction of a terminal for docking of cruise ships.
In a meeting with Ramon Lobo, businessman Antony Jauquin from Grand Cayman, said "... the initial investment will be $ 600 million dollars," published Latribuna.hn.
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.
$5 million will be invested in developing a golf course in the Honduran touristic project known as “Los Micos Beach and Golf Resort”.
The 18-hole course will be designed by Gary Player, a renowned designer with over 300 golf courses around the globe, and will be funded with resources from the investors behind the group called “Desarrollo Turístico Bahía de Tela”.
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".