Recognition of the Comayagua Tourist Route
Congreso Nacional
- Decree: 30-2024
- Published: April 12, 2024
- Issuing body: Congreso Nacional
- Gazette: 36,507
- Category: Commercial
- Type: Other
Summary
This decree officially recognizes a tourist route in Comayagua consisting of five themed sectors: coffee, livestock, typical sweets, historical sites, and nature. It aims to promote tourism, generate employment and investment in the region through coordination between government, municipalities, and private companies to develop and promote these local attractions.
Considerations
Whereas, as established in Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic, "Honduras is a rule of law State, sovereign, constituted as a free, democratic and independent Republic to ensure its inhabitants the enjoyment of justice, freedom, culture and economic and social well-being" and as established in Article 59 of the Constitution of the Republic, "The human person is the supreme end of society and the State. All have the obligation to respect and protect it...".
Whereas, the National Institute of Statistics (INE) describes that the percentage of persons who do not report being employed, but who report activities supporting family income are engaged in agricultural cultivation, forestry activities, raising their own or family animals, assistance in some business, own or family workshop, food preparation or elaboration of articles for sale, and thus the promotion of tourism in the department of Comayagua would represent a substantial improvement in family incomes.
Whereas, the Honduran Institute of Tourism (IHT) indicates that the year 2022 constituted the second consecutive year of growth in visitor arrival income, following the decline of seventy-one point one percent (71.1%) in the year 2020 due to travel restrictions imposed as part of the global effort to contain the COVID-19 virus, and therefore this Law represents an opportunity to promote tourism and job creation.
Whereas, the department of Comayagua has a great variety of tourist attractions, such as its historical and cultural heritage, its rich gastronomy and its beautiful natural landscapes, which could be utilized for the development of tourism activity in the region and the promotion of tourism in the department of Comayagua could stimulate the formalization of local businesses and enterprises, as well as the creation of new investment opportunities, which would be beneficial for the economy of the region.
Whereas, in accordance with Article 205, Attribution 1) of the Constitution of the Republic, it is the authority of the National Congress to: Create, decree, interpret, reform and repeal laws.
Whereas, the Constitution of the Republic declares the conservation and protection of environmental resources to be of national interest, as well as the adequate management and rational use of the same, and in the same manner declares of public utility and necessity, the technical and rational exploitation of the natural resources of the nation.
Whereas, Article 340 of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras declares of public utility and necessity the technical and rational exploitation of the natural resources of the Nation, the State shall regulate their use in accordance with the social interest and shall establish the conditions of their granting to private parties.
Whereas, in accordance with Article 108 of the Forest Law, Protected Areas and Wildlife, it is the responsibility of the National System of Forest Research, Protected Areas, Wildlife (SINFOR) to develop, regulate and supervise scientific and applied research that is conducted in protected areas or on their biodiversity, taking into account management categories and being required to respect the traditional and cultural practices of local communities.
Articles
PURPOSE OF THE LAW. This Law has the purpose of legally recognizing a tourist route in the department of Comayagua, with the aim of promoting investment through tourism, encouraging economic development of the region and fostering the formalization of local businesses and enterprises.
DENOMINATION OF THE REGIONS. The regions of the tourist route are designated in accordance with the categories present in each one of them, in order to highlight the variety and richness of the tourist offer of the department of Comayagua.
SECTORS OR POINTS OF THE TOURIST ROUTE. The tourist route of the department of Comayagua is composed of four (4) sectors or geographic points:
- 1)
SECTOR ONE: "THE COFFEE ROUTE" (LA RUTA PARAINEMA), which comprises the municipalities of San Jerónimo, San Luis, Esquías, La Libertad, Las Lajas and Ojos de Agua, where a wide variety of high quality coffee is found;
- 2)
SECTOR TWO: "THE LIVESTOCK ROUTE" (LA RUTA GANADERA), which comprises the municipalities of Villa de San Antonio, Lamaní, San Sebastián and Humuya, where activities related to livestock raising are highlighted;
- 3)
SECTOR THREE: "THE SWEETS ROUTE" (LA RUTA DULCE), which comprises the municipalities of Taulabé and San José de Comayagua, where a wide variety of typical regional sweets are produced and elaborated;
- 4)
SECTOR FOUR: "THE HISTORIC ROUTE" (LA RUTA ANTAÑONA), which comprises the municipalities of Comayagua and Siguatepeque, where important historical and colonial sites of the region are located; and,
- 5)
SECTOR FIVE: THE GREEN ROUTE (RUTA VERDE), which comprises the municipalities of Siguatepeque, Taulabé and Meámbar, which represent by their flora and fauna one of the principal environmental attractions.
FOLLOW-UP COMMITTEE. A Follow-Up Committee for the Tourist Route is created, composed of representatives of the central and local government and coordinated by the municipalities of the Department of Comayagua, with the possibility of the private sector and organizations dedicated to promoting investment and entrepreneurship in the Department participating. The Committee shall have as its objective to coordinate the necessary actions for the adequate development and promotion of the tourist route, as well as to ensure the participation and benefit of the local community.
OBTAINING RESOURCES. To achieve the purposes of this Law, the managers of the so-called tourist routes shall conduct agreements and alliances between the central government, the private sector, international cooperation organizations or other actors interested in participating in and promoting tourism.
This Decree shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Gazette "La Gaceta". Given in the city of Tegucigalpa, municipality of the Central District, in the Session Hall of the National Congress, on the nineteenth day of the month of March of two thousand twenty-four. LUIS ROLANDO REDONDO GUIFARRO PRESIDENT CARLOS ARMANDO ZELAYA ROSALES SECRETARY LUZ ANGÉLICA SMITH MEJÍA SECRETARY To the Executive Branch For Implementation: Execute. TEGUCIGALPA, M.D.C., March 25, 2024. IRIS XIOMARA CASTRO SARMIENTO PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE OFFICE OF TOURISM National Institute of Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF) AGREEMENT-025-2023 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOREST CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT, PROTECTED AREAS AND WILDLIFE (ICF). WHEREAS: The Constitution of the Republic declares the conservation and protection of environmental resources to be of national interest, as well as the adequate management and rational use of the same, and in the same manner declares of public utility and necessity the technical and rational exploitation of the natural resources of the nation. WHEREAS: Article 340 of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras declares of public utility and necessity the technical and rational exploitation of the natural resources of the Nation, the State shall regulate their use in accordance with the social interest and shall establish the conditions of their granting to private parties. WHEREAS: In accordance with Article 108 of the Forest Law, Protected Areas and Wildlife, it is the responsibility of the National System of Forest Research, Protected Areas, Wildlife (SINFOR) to develop, regulate and supervise scientific and applied research that is conducted in protected areas or on their biodiversity, taking into account management categories and being required to respect the traditional and cultural practices of local communities.
Related laws
- Decreto Legislativo No. 30-2024 — Reconocimiento jurídico de ruta turística en el departamento de Comayagua (Decree 30-2024, 2024)
- Agreement FGR-JAZ-003-2024 by which Agreement FGR-007-2022 is repealed, which contains reforms to the Statute of the Career of the Public Ministry — The General Prosecutor repeals two 2022 agreements that reformed the Public Ministry's disciplinary system because they lacked procedures guaranteeing due process to investigated officials (notifications, hearings, evidence presentation, defined timelines). This affected employees and public officials, generating rejected appeals in court. The goal is to restore a constitutional disciplinary system that protects fundamental rights. (Decree 21-2024, 2022)
- Executive Decree PCM-066-2018 declaring a state of emergency in various departments of Honduras due to rain and heavy showers — This decree declares a state of emergency in several Honduran departments (Francisco Morazán, Valle, Choluteca, Olancho, Cortés, El Paraíso, and Comayagua) due to heavy rains and storms caused by a low-pressure system. It allows the government to directly contract services and supplies without public bidding, and creates an action plan coordinated by COPECO with support from various ministries to address urgent needs until December 2018. (Decree 97-2018, 2018)
- Law for Promoting the Exploitation of Low-Cost Air Transport Routes — This law promotes low-cost air flights in Honduras by offering discounts on landing fees, airport services, and passenger taxes to airlines that meet traffic projections. It benefits tourists, travelers, and the country's economy by attracting more flights and passengers, creating jobs in tourism and aviation following the COVID-19 crisis. (Decree 48-2021, 2021)
- Law for the Promotion of Low-Cost Air Transport Route Operations — This law promotes low-cost airline flights in Honduras by offering discounts on landing fees, airport services, and passenger taxes to airlines operating economical routes. It benefits tourists, travelers, and airlines, aiming to recover jobs lost due to COVID-19 and increase tourism and investment in the country. (Decree 48-2021, 2021)