The Nicaragua Crisis and its Effect on the Honduras Tourism Industry

If you have any interest in Central America and are planning a trip to the region, you have heard about the Nicaragua crisis. It has been going on for over 4 months, and according to most reports, over 300 persons have died. Most of them young students who demand that the current government step down. The result of these protests has been catastrophic for the Nicaragua tourism industry. Being the second most important generator of revenues, this means the Nica economy is taking a bit hit. It is also taking its toll on the neighboring Central American Countries.

Yes, the Nicaragua Crisis is affecting Travel to Honduras

Central America is a popular region for young backpackers and older flashpackers to travel through. It offers diverse countries with different geography and cultures. Many of these travelers begin their trip in Guatemala and then travel south to Panama. Because of miss conceptions about safety in Honduras, many of the more conservative flashpackers traveling through Central America traditionally skipped Honduras. However, there are now even more serious concerns about Nicaragua.[themify_hr border_width=”1″ width=”1″ color=”light-gray”]

I must say that neither country is dangerous for tourists. But the situation in Nicaragua has been complicated for travelers, because there are many roadblocks along the way. Traveling from point A to point B can be a hassle. Let’s face it, an adventure is fine, but dealing with a semi-permanent hassle is a real nuisance!  Roadblocks deter travelers because they are a waste of time during your precious vacation time!

There is no doubt that the most resilient tourism industry in Central America is that of Costa Rica and Panama. These two countries are taking the bulk of the tourism in the region. This situation is not new, and the current Nicaragua Crisis is only making things worse for Honduras. The truth is that there are many safe destinations in Honduras that you can travel to without putting yourself at risk. As a matter of fact, if you use your common sense, you can travel throughout all of Honduras and not run into any trouble.

A New Trend in Travel Throughout the Region?

Perhaps El Salvador is the biggest winner with this crisis. It appears that travelers that used to go to Nicaragua after visiting the Bay Islands in Honduras are now headed towards El Salvador. It is my guess that they are taking advantage of the great surfing on the Pacific Beaches in El Salvador. In addition, affordable air fare between San Salvador and San Jose provides the perfect alternative to skip Nicaragua. It is amazing to see that social unrest in one country within Central America can disrupt travel throughout the region.

Our hearts go out to the colleagues in Nicaragua. We hope that the situation there is resolved peacefully in the immediate future. I understand that there are some travelers that continue to visit Nicaragua. I hope that the word gets out that it is safe to travel there, just as it is to in the rest of Central America.