As a preferred cruise port, Roatan, Honduras, welcomes a couple of million cruise company yearly.
However, resulting from a lately up to date journey advisory by the US Authorities, many soon-to-be cruisers have turn into nervous about visiting the port on upcoming sailings. Afterall, the advisory places Honduras at a Degree 3 – which suggests vacationers ought to rethink journey.
Nevertheless, doing so could be detrimental to the economic system and livelihood of many within the tourism and hospitality industries who rely closely on cruise ship calls.
Only for context, 1.4 million cruise passengers visited the Western Caribbean vacation spot in 2023 – which was a rise of 47.6%.
The Port of Roatan and the Mahogany Bay Cruise Port accommodate calls from a number of mainstream cruise strains year-round – together with Royal Caribbean, Celeb Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival-owned ships – welcoming company to Roatan’s capital metropolis of Coxen Gap.
With this in thoughts, Bryan Tejada, the overall supervisor of AT21 TOURS Roatan, has issued a letter explaining why Roatan remains to be protected to go to – and the way it’s totally different from the remainder of the nation.
As a number one operator of shore excursions for cruise company in Coxen Gap, in addition to all-inclusive trip packages for different guests, Tejada and his workforce are very aware of the island.
“We perceive that current information concerning a US Division of Justice advisory for Honduras might have raised issues about your upcoming journey. Nevertheless, it’s vital to notice that Roatan, the place you can be visiting, is essentially totally different from the mainland of Honduras, each by way of security and total journey expertise,” Tejada wrote.
Additional reinforcing this, even the US journey advisory famous that tourism scorching spots are safer than different elements of the nation – together with Roatan.
“Round resort areas within the Bay Islands, which embrace Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja, there’s a focus of assets, and these areas are higher policed,” the journey advisory reads, partly.
That stated, this is able to doubtless be a port name the place it will be prudent to e-book with a good tour operator – resembling AT21 TOURS Roatan – that is aware of the island effectively and is conscious of present security data.
Roatan is Positioned Away From Hazard
One of many key distinctions that Tejada wished to make is that Roatan will not be a part of mainland Honduras – which is the place the crime and violence that triggered the journey advisory is extra rampant.
“Roatan is likely one of the Bay Islands positioned about 40 miles off the northern coast of mainland Honduras. It’s a well-known tropical paradise, celebrated for its vibrant coral reefs, pristine seashores, and welcoming native communities,” defined Tejada.
“The advisory you’ve learn pertains to the mainland, the place sure challenges exist in areas far eliminated each geographically and contextually from Roatan. In distinction, Roatan has a powerful give attention to sustaining its fame as a premier vacationer vacation spot, which incorporates heightened security protocols in areas frequented by guests,” the enterprise supervisor added.
Certainly, native authorities work intently with legislation enforcement, tourism organizations, and enterprise house owners to maintain guests protected and completely happy – bringing in additional safety as required.
Learn Additionally: The way to Keep Secure and Take pleasure in Your Cruise Trip
This example truly sounds fairly much like the present scenario in Labadee, Haiti – which is Royal Caribbean’s 260-acre non-public vacation spot on the north coast of Haiti.
Whereas Haiti is underneath essentially the most extreme Degree 4 journey advisory – which stands for “don’t journey” – Labadee is safer as a result of it’s over 100 miles away from the crime and unrest unfolding in Port-au-Prince, which is the nation’s capital metropolis.
The unique vacation spot can be a part of a closely guarded space that’s protected by excessive fences, non-public safety, and even armed guards.
However irrespective of the place cruisers journey – whether or not that’s an unique vacation spot or to the grocery retailer at residence – it’s at all times a good suggestion to train fundamental precautions, resembling staying conscious of 1’s environment and safeguarding belongings.
