When the Honduran military ousted President Manuel Zelaya in June 2009, foreign travelers were dissuaded from traveling to the country if at all possible. But what are tourists being advised to do on an ongoing basis?
Avoid Non-Essential Travel to Honduras
Generally, tourists are being steered to reconsider any travel plans to Honduras due to the unstable and unpredictable political situation. The US Department of State originally advised that the travel alert would be in place until the end of July 2009. The alert has since been upgraded, recommending that, “American citizens defer all non-essential travel to Honduras until further notice.” The alert expires on 20 October 2009. Similarly, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is advising British nationals who are planning a trip to Honduras to contact their travel operator for advice, while those already in the country should “exercise extreme caution and stay away from large gatherings and places of public protest.” Although most demonstrations to date, both for and against the coup, have been generally non-violent, they are expected to continue indefinitely.
Risks of Traveling to Honduras
The current situation in Honduras is widely considered to be volatile because it could change at any moment and there are concerns that the situation could deteriorate quickly. Although interim leader Roberto Micheletti has made broadcasts to reassure the nation and the world that violent demonstrations have come to an end and that there is calm among the people, Foreign Offices across the world are exercising more caution. There is still a prominent military presence on the streets of the capital city, Tegucigalpa, and there are reports of demonstrations and intermittent scenes of violence and roadblocks. Movements are being controlled and curfews are still in place. As the timings of the curfews change on a regular basis, everyone in Honduras is being advised to keep abreast of reports by local media to ensure adherence.
Where in Honduras are the Problems?
In particular, tourists are being instructed to stay away from Tegucigalpa's Toncontin Airport, where a protester was shot dead on 5 July 2009. As there are reports of President Zelaya continuing his attempts to re-enter the country, all entry points to Honduras are potentially high-risk areas, as violent protests could develop with little or no warning. Border areas with Nicaragua are of especial concern. The area surrounding the Presidential palace in central Tegucigalpa, Congress and government buildings in general have all been hotspots for demonstrations and subsequently have a particularly strong military presence.
Despite the rigorous advice being offered to foreign travelers by their governments and foreign advisors, others maintain that the situation is safe for tourists. Flavia Cueva, owner of the Hacienda San Lucas guest house in Copan, has emphasised that both Copan and the Bay Islands – favorite locations for travelers before the coup – are safe to visit.
Other Travel Risks in Honduras
As well as the potentially unstable political situation, travelers are also being issued with additional travel information prior to visiting Honduras. There are confirmed cases of A (H1N1) - Swine Flu – in the country, including one confirmed death. Screening equipment is in place at airports to check inbound passengers. An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale occurred near the Bay Islands on 28 May 2009 and tremors were felt across Honduras and neighboring countries. Travelers are urged to monitor the situation via their country's embassy or consulate. Tourists are also advised that the hurricane season lasts from June to November, during which time they may come across additional travel hazards due to adverse weather. Honduras also has a high crime rate and is the reason why many foreign nationals require assistance from embassies during their trip. Pickpocketing and armed robberies are particularly prevalent.
All travelers should keep important documents and valuables locked away in a safe and should be careful about displaying valuable items in public. In light of the current political situation, travelers who do decide to go to Honduras are being advised to have adequate supplies of food, water, cash, fuel and medicines with them. Although foreign embassies are operating as normal at the moment, any change in circumstances could impact their operation.
Sasha Arms - After graduating from university with a degree in Geography, Sasha became Managing Editor and Travel Editor of Futurespace Magazine. She ...
