Happy Holidays to everyone!
In addition to the traditional holiday season it is also the season for tourists on Roatan. Here is a little look at West Bay Beach last week.
Let me give a big “Welcome Back” to the guests on Roatan today and all through the winter.
Enjoy Life, Philip
The good news regarding travel to Honduras was announced last week by the U.S. Department of State, no more travel alert! Here is the official statement:
“The travel alert issued for Honduras on November 6, 2009, is canceled, effective immediately. The improved security situation in Honduras has removed the immediate threat to the safety and security of U.S. citizens in Honduras.”
Although there had never been a problem with security here on Roatan or the Bay Islands, the U.S. Dept. of State did not distinguish between locations within a country. Consequently the alert which was intended for the large cities on the mainland severely impacted tourism here in the Bay Islands.
The timing of this announcement is very good, as the “busy” tourism season in the Bay Islands is just starting to ramp up. I have already seen a noticeable increase in visitors to the resorts and beaches this past weekend. Some increase might have happened anyway but the removal of the alert will certainly encourage others who may have had concerns to come down for a visit.
So if your ears are freezing and your fingers are numb send me an email Philip@RoatanLiving.com and I’ll help you find a lounge chair in the sun.
Enjoy Life, Philip
As I travel around the island I have been making it a point to ask resort managers, desk clerks and scuba shop owners what their bookings look like for the holidays. So far the responses have been “Our Bookings Are Up”. That response is certainly an improvement over the last 10 months.
The dive shop at Palmetto said that they have received enough reservations that they would need two boats during the holidays to handle all their guests. They typically operate with only one boat.
None of the resorts or dive shops I spoke with indicated that they were full for the holidays but that is a distinct possibility since Christmas is still four weeks away and there are always those who procrastinate making their reservations.
Everyone here is excited that the tourists are beginning to return to Roatan. It has been a VERY slow year and having guests on the island will certainly brighten the holidays. Don’t forget that if you are interested in Real Estate here we offer a buyer stays free program, check out the web site for details.
Enjoy Life, Philip