I also suggest doing what we can to encourage additional airlines to fly to
Honduran destinations.from other countries. I've sent e-mails to both
America West and Alaska Airlines asking them to do so since there is no
western US gateway. I have received acknowledgements to my correspondence
but only time will tell. Most every US carrier flies to Costa Rica now that
it has been "discovered." I bet that wasn't always the case. Every little
bit helps.
Best,
jsl
_____
From: travel-to-honduras.....com
[mailto:travel-to-honduras.....com] On Behalf Of Marco
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 3:40 PM
To: travel-to-honduras.....com
Subject: [travel-to-honduras] lobbying for lower airfares to Honduras
Good afternoon everyone...
During the social tourism segment of the recently-concluded Conference
on Honduras 2005, we discussed the problem of expensive airline fares
to Honduras. One of my colleagues, for example paid $800 for a
roundtrip ticket to Honduras from Houston, TX. That's extremely high.
I was able to fly to Guatemala City (with a return flight from
Tegucigalpa) from Washington Dulles for $380, so you have to wonder...
"what's the problem?"
Well, one problem that is always mentioned is "competition". Not
enough competing airlines flying to Honduras. Whatever the answer is,
the fact remains that high airfares are a disincentive for people to
visit Honduras, particularly social tourists who would like to fly to
Honduras more often to provide their volunteer services.
At the conference, we were fortunate to have Roberto Galeano of
Honduras' Institute of Tourism in attendance. Roberto gave us a brief
presentation explaining how the Honduran government has recently
negotiated a 45% decrease in the airport taxes for airlines.
The reduced taxes represent significant cost savings for the airlines
with respect to services at Honduras' four major airports
(Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, and Roatan).
Our question (as you might guess) was... "So when will consumers start
to realize the benefit of these reduced airport taxes?". Certainly,
it would be nice to see the airlines pass on at least some of their
cost savings to passengers.
Roberto suggested that one way we can perhaps influence airlines to
drop their fares is to use the power of our network to express our
strong support for significantly lower fares.
Thus, I would ask that all of us who read this message send an e-mail
or mail a letter stating the importance of lower fares to both you as
an individual and your organization. State the name of your
organization and your location. If you travel to Honduras regularly,
indicate how many more times you would travel there were airfares 25%,
50% lower. State how many people travel with you. State how
continued high fares might affect your plans for continuing to travel
to Honduras. You get the idea.
According to the Honduran government, the tourism industry generated
approximately $450 million in revenue in 2004. While this is an
indication of the benefit to Honduras of tourism, it only begins to
reveal the full benefit. Given the thousands of social tourists who
travel to Honduras each year, the country benefits in so many more
ways through the expertise, experience, energy, and talents provided
by these travelers. It would indeed be a shame if high airfares would
discourage these travelers from continuing their love affair with
Honduras.
Roberto recommends that we write to the following individual to
express our concerns:
Armando Funes
Asociación Hondureña de Líneas Aéreas (AHLA)
Centro Comercial Plaza Criolla, 2do nivel
Boulevard Morazán, Tegucigalpa
Honduras C.A.
e-mail: afunes.....com
Armando is the head of Honduras' airline association. I will be
trying to convince him to join us next year at the Conference on
Honduras 2006.
To make our impact felt all the more, please try and e-mail or write
your letter during the next few days.
This is a cause that should benefit everyone... not the least of
which, the Honduran people.
Thanks,
Marco
Sponsored By:
Adventures on Roatan: An exciting tour of the island on DVD
http://www.roatanvideo.com
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