Country Article / Postcards
Paradise Undisturbed
Date: 01/19/2006
[Geotourism (n): Tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place--its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents.]
Honduras was the first country to adopt geotourism as its national tourism strategy--President Maduro signed a Geotourism Charter which focuses not only on the environment, but also on the diversity of the cultural, historic, and scenic assets of Honduras. This approach encourages citizens and visitors to get involved, rather than remain tourism spectators, and helps build a sense of national identity and pride, stressing what is authentic and unique to Honduras.
Sounds a little hokey, I know. But the practical applications are encouraging.
This charter means we won’t be seeing over-bearing hotels on every inch of beach, or natural foliage ripped out. Local small businesses and civic groups will build relationships to market their area’s culture, nature, and history, including food and drink, artisan markets, and performing arts. The indigent Garifuna, as well as foreign investors, will benefit from increased tourism. Natural resources will be protected--water and energy consumption, solid waste disposal, and restricted use of chemicals and overly bright nighttime lighting.
Perhaps the most welcome part of the plan is that aggressive and thoughtless developers will not be able to strip the country of its heart and soul. Development is still encouraged and rewarded, but not to the detriment of everything that first brought us here. The Honduran people are an important part of preserving the nature of the country and will be at the forefront of this effort.
For those of us already invested in Honduras, or thinking about investing, it’s comforting to know that as real estate values continue to rise in this extraordinary country, this slice of paradise will continue to grow in beauty, too.
Janine Goben
For International Living in Honduras
E-mail: honduras@internationalliving.com
Editor's note: Dates are now confirmed for our Live and Prosper in Honduras Conference--May 8-10, 2006. Join us and discover why Honduras is the best buy in the Caribbean right now. For first-look details, contact Patricia Goltry by e-mail: Conferences@InternationalLiving.com; or tel. 1-866-381-8446 (toll-free in the U.S.)