There's This Little Hotel...

To be able to create a tourism of this flavor is to believe in the essence and beauty of our country. It is about believing that all communities can benefit. It is about believing and having confidence that we in Honduras have more than enough to succeed without having to leave for foreign lands to seek out our futures.

By Guillermo Anderson

I have friends who believe in tourism and work in the industry, but not for large hotel chains or international tour companies. They are friends who run a small company or an office. They answer their own phones, do their own books, and whenever they get a call they drive the van themselves and leave their partner to watch over the business. They offer a personal and friendly service to the tourists. They speak three languages and understand the local history and culture, and they sometimes even know the names and physical properties of the plants along the way. They carry the canoes on their backs, big inflatable rafts, canopy and rock climbing equipment, ice coolers with fruit for their clients. And even with all of this, they manage to keep a smile on their face and remain good-natured for the tourists, who are fascinated by our flora and fauna and all the natural beauty that surrounds us.

I have friends who have worked hard and managed to transform tiny houses in colorful corners or villages of my country into some of the most charming little hotels and hostels in the world. As if they were magicians, they've taken stones entangled with vines and torsos of trees and flowers and lovingly conjured up some of the most creative decorations. The wheel of an old cart left to rot has been turned into an elegant table on which to quietly sip and enjoy a cup of aromatic coffee roasted by a woman from the town. An old shell of a snail... an old dug out canoe that the sea left to be forgotten in the sand... an old clay pot overflowing with lush tropical flowers... All turned into unimaginable treasures that eyes have seldom seen.

To be able to create a tourism of this flavor is to believe in the essence and beauty of our country. It is about believing that all communities can benefit. It is about believing and having confidence that we in Honduras have more than enough to succeed without having to leave for foreign lands to seek out our futures.

My friends have suffered a great deal during the past few months. Some of the places they built have had to close down due to a shortage of customers, a lack of business. Many of these charming little spots with friendly, warm and giving people have suddenly ceased to exist, and all the furniture made with such delicate care and unique imagination now sits collecting dust. My friends did not have enough savings to survive the crisis.

Nonetheless, some have managed to stay afloat, albeit with tremendous sacrifices. Some have dusted off their little paradises and have once again started actively marketing themselves. If there are Hondurans who, despite the crisis, are thinking about taking even a modest vacation this summer, I'd like them to consider the kind of places I've mentioned because, aside from their charm, they are places that believe in our potential, believe in our people and culture, and are tiny refuges of hope.

We should be the most enthusiastic promoters of our country. I would like for everyone to start thinking about helping spread the word about that "little hotel" that we know in a tiny corner of Honduras where were treated so well and where we ate Honduran food that we had never tasted before. Spread the word about that small tour company where a nice person took us to see a spectacular waterfall and taught us about the indigenous plants and wildlife, and where we saw a traditional festival that inspired us to better appreciate our culture. Let's visit and support these places. It would be a gesture of love toward a country that today very much needs it. (5/13/10)

Note: The author is Honduras' best-known World Music Artist. His concerts celebrate love, nature and everyday life in this part of the Caribbean. As an artist, he has played an important role in Honduras bringing awareness on important issues like the protection of the environment, health and literacy.