Honduras resumes normal operations

Honduras Tourism Industry Resumes Normal Operations

After Early Morning Earthquake on Thursday hotels and attractions in tourist areas, including Roatán, are up-and-running


Tegucigalpa, Honduras (May 28, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.) – Following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake at 2:24 a.m. local time (4:24 a.m. EDT) on May 28, the Honduras tourism industry is operating as normal. The epicenter of the earthquake was 39 miles northeast of the island of Roatán - part of the country’s Bay Islands in the Caribbean Sea. The earthquake had a shallow depth of 6.2 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The effects of this earthquake could be felt across the country, including in the coastal towns of La Ceiba and Tela, and in the large cities of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa. A tsunami alert for Honduras, Guatemala and Belize was immediately issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, but was lifted within an hour.

“We are saddened for our fellow Hondurans that seven casualties have been reported at this time; however our tourism infrastructure remains intact and is operating as usual,” said Ricardo Martinez, Minister of Tourism for Honduras. “From a tourism infrastructure standpoint, we are fortunate that our initial assessments indicate we experienced minimal damages from the earthquake. For this reason, hotels and attractions are open for business.”

International and domestic air service is operating as scheduled. While no cruise lines were scheduled to arrive in Roatán today, those with port calls beginning Friday will operate as scheduled.

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. It borders on the west with Guatemala, the southwest with El Salvador, and on the east with Nicaragua.

For more information, travelers can call 1-800-410-9608 or visit www.letsgohonduras.com.