The government of Honduras is promoting the island of Roatán, located just a few miles off the shores of the country, with the intent of transforming it into a prime seaside resort Caribbean destination along the line of Cancún and Punta Cana. In fact, the island receives special treatment such as government-sponsored infrastructure development and law-enforcement investment to keep it safe and immune from problems affecting the mainland. Accordingly, please take a look at the following facts because the government project as a whole is taking off including some 15 oceanfront resort properties already in operation and a fully developed seaport for cruise ships to dock servicing vessels owned by Carnival Corporation & PLC and Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited currently operational as well. This seaport holds traffic rapidly approaching one million tourist visitor arrivals per year:
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According to Forbes the location of Roatán is one of the best islands for scuba diving but presently lacks luxury accommodations. Therefore, there is exponential room for growth.
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Roatán is located two hours away by plane from the closest American international airports. Consequently, the island is reachable without suffering jet lag. There is a fully operational international airport on the island known formally as the “Juan Manuel Gálvez Roatán International Airport” taking flights from the US directly with Delta and United Continental airlines among others. In addition, there is a ferry service doing roundtrips between Roatán and the mainland in Honduras twice a day seven days a week known as the “Galaxy Wave Ferry”.
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The Bay Islands of Honduras are located on the second largest coral reef in the world known as the “Mesoamerican Barrier Reef” with spectacular pristine waters off the Caribbean, well known for diving among the busy traveled. The weather is usually between 75 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
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The location of Roatán Island is 35 miles off the coast of Honduras, allowing fresh produce and supplies to be brought in rather quickly and cost-efficiently as opposed to many other islands in the Caribbean that impose heavy obstacles.
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The government of Honduras is making tourism their number one priority as a tool to provide jobs and raise the standard of living in the country.
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Companies that bring jobs will have a tax-exempt status for 21 years, such offer allows for higher profits.
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The proximity to many other countries allows tourism from Latin America.
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A sudden land rush mentality has taken place on Roatán because of its future value that is expected to rise exponentially. The tourism infrastructure is developing quickly through the contribution of foreign direct investment, evolution and influence of new ideas by first world presence on the island.
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Maids, cooks and gardeners’ wages average $ 7 a day. Freshly caught seafood is readily available on the island through local fishermen and is relatively inexpensive. Lobster tails and jumbo shrimp run about $ 6 per pound and fresh fish is at about $ 2 per pound. As a consequence, such low costs allow hotels and restaurants the manpower to offer a great ratio to customer for excellent attention at a five-star quality level profitably.