FECTAB Vs Norwegian is a Tourism Issue, Says Investment Minister

On Thursday, you heard tour operators and FECTAB express their discontent with the loss of business, following the launch of the multimillion-dollar Norwegian Cruise Line Port on Harvest Caye. According to the tour operators, the cruise line backtracked on traditional calls at the Fort Street Tourism Village in Belize City, cutting their business drastically. Today, the media asked former C.E.O. of Tourism – now Minister of State for Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Commerce – Tracy Panton to chime in on the issue.

Tracy Panton

Tracy Panton, Minister of State, Economic Development, Investment, Trade & Commerce

“I think the tourism representatives may be able to speak directly to that issue. From the very onset of those negotiations, it was clear that the NCL ships will be sent down south that would create some opportunity for the southern region of Belize. As you know that is the most impoverish in terms of opportunities. And so, I am not sure what negotiations FECTAB had, if any, with NCL in terms of being facilitators of tours here in the Belize District. I know that there are a number of tour operators and tour guides in the south who have prepared themselves to benefit from the NCL project in that area. But I don’t have the finer details and I think the tourism representatives can add some more value to that discussion.”