Honduras Tourism Reopens!

All of us, regardless of whether our work is related to tourism or not have been asking ourselves when this will happen. According to a decree issued by the Minister of Tourism, Nicole Marrder, Honduras Tourism Reopens! Of course, there are some caveats to this statement, but it seems like it is really happening. Please note that this post about Honduras tourism reopening applies mainly to persons currently living in Honduras. This is regardless of whether you are a Honduran Citizen or not.

Currently, Honduras has set up four reopening phases. Phase zero is still a basic lockdown. There are still many cities in Honduras that are in phase zero. This means that there is limited circulation, and that only essential businesses are open. Most of the larger cities, such as Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba are now in phase one. This allows for non-essential businesses to open, but with a limited number of employees, usually between 20 and 30% of the regular staff. However, if you are a small business with fewer that 10 employees, you may hire them all back. Most businesses in Honduras are small and have 10 or less employees. Since citizens can only to go out once ever two weeks, depending on the last digit in their ID cards, tourism has not been able to take off. Who wants to go on vacation alone?

Although you can travel to your destination, there are a couple of complications. For example, the ferry service between La Ceiba and the Bay Islands is not yet operating. There is still limited public bus transportation services available. So, you almost must have your own vehicle to get around. As always, you may have to prove that you have a safe passage document to allow you to travel freely. In this first stage as Honduras tourism reopens, your safe passage will be a confirmation of your reservation. Please note that this will be issued by the hotel you have a reservation at. Make sure that you ask the hotel to include information such as dates of your reservations. It is also a good idea to include the names of all of those in your group that will be traveling with you.

Please make sure with your hotel that the city they are in is currently in phase one or higher. Some cities, such as Tela is still in phase zero as we speak, and therefore your reservation at a hotel there will not provide safe passage. I know for a fact that Copan Ruinas, Santa Rosa de Copan, Gracias, La Esperanza, the area around Lake Yojoa and La Ceiba are in phase one or higher. The same applies to the Bay Islands. However, please make sure that you contact your hotel in the bay islands before you plan to travel. It appears that the municipality in Guanaja is requesting a certificate proving that you have tested negative to Covid-19. As far as I know, that is not the case in the other islands.

I must stress, however that if you are arriving on an in international flight, you need to have a Covid-19 certificate stating that you are negative. Authorities demand that you have a negative PCR Covid-19 test to gain entrance into Honduras. Your must take your test at least 72 hours before you arrive in Honduras.