HONDURAN TOURISM EXPECTED TO INCREASE 15%

Honduran tourism sector, better known as the "chimneyfree industry," is expected to jump from 4 to 15% growth this year.

The increase is projected to generate more than 800 million dollars in foreign currency for the country, according to estimates by officials of the Honduran Tourism Institute (IHT). The Honduran economy will get a billion-dollar contribution from the travel and tourism sector this year.

in 2017, the hotel industry is projecting that occupancy rates and average daily spending will be high. That is why the tourism sector generates more than 284 million jobs each year, representing one in every 11 jobs worldwide.

In the case of domestic tourism, it is expected to increase by more than 12%. At the beginning of the year, the first three cruise ships of the Carnival Cruise Line docked at Roatán Island.

The Carnival Magic Cruises docked at the island's Mahogany Bay cruise port and brought more than 3,000 tourists to the country from Orlando, Mexico’s Mayan coast, and also from Belize. In addition, more than 2,000 tourists arrived on the Carnival Freedom and the Carnival Splendor.

Together they add up to more than 9,000 tourists, most of whom are expected to go ashore.

According to the figures, every person who disembarks from a cruise ship to visit the country spends an average of 79 to 80 dollars on souvenirs.

There are also revenues for the Honduran tourism industry from sightseeing tours, recreational activities, bars and restaurants. According to the projections, the months of greatest activity in the cruise ship category are February, March, November, and December.