Hoteliers/airlines still optimistic about tourism
Reports from the U.S. are that while long lines rule Los Angeles International, Miami Airport is a ghost town, indicating that many Americans are still afraid to fly in the wake of that terrible Tuesday. That’s not good news for the tourism industry here since most of Belize’s tourists arrive via that U.S. City. But as Ann-Marie Williams found out today, despite the uncertain future, the mood is still optimistic.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
The effects of September eleventh that changed America forever, is fast trickling down on Belize’s tourism sector, particularly on the hotel and national air carrier industries. Amado Badillo is Tropic Air’s regional manager.
Amado Badillo, Regional Manager, Tropic Air
“We have seen a drastic reduction in the amount of traffic, but of recent, the past three or four days, we have seen an increase. The first ten days after the disaster, we did see a remarkable decrease in traffic.”
And that remarkable decrease in traffic brought on by international tourists not flying, has cut into the local carrier’s revenue. However, all is not lost as the locals have kept Tropic off the ground.
Amado Badillo
“We have a lot of locals who are going back and forth because of the increase growth in traffic locally, both local tourism industry and our business industry. So we have seen quite a mark increase from what we use to see before.”
For Radisson’s general manager, Norman Pennill, the opposite is true, he’s seen a decrease in bookings, for September at least.
Norman Pennill, Gen. Manager, Radisson Fort George Hotel
“The industry has been a little bit wobbly since September eleventh. We have lost about twenty percent of our reservation and that was mainly for the months of September. People basically had cancelled because we feel that perhaps they are afraid of air travel, and this is mostly North American traffic.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“The bombing actually occurred at a time when our tourist season was low. Do you feel like things will be picking up pretty soon since the tourism season is about to start?”
Norman Pennill
“The booking pace for the month of October has picked up a bit. Right now it is still kind of uncertain because we feel a lot of people have not cancelled because they’re unsure of what the future situation is. But we’re kind of hopeful that things will pick up a little bit more as we go only for the month of October
Badillo too is hoping that things will pick up, after all, he’s expanded to cater to an increase in passengers.
Amado Badillo
“We do have a lot of local traffic moving between San Pedro, Corozal, Belize City and Punta Gorda, especially Placencia, which we has seen has the largest growth in local traffic. So of recent, just last week Friday, we inaugurated a new terminal building, which gave us about sixty percent increase in volume over what we had before.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“That helps a great deal at this time in compensation for the tourists who are note really coming?”
Amado Badillo
“That is correct. And also we’re building a new terminal building in Dangriga and we’ve also increased our volume at Caye Caulker.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“You’re not laying off anybody just yet?”
Norman Pennill
“No. on the contrary, we’re actually looking at ways we can make attractive rates and add more value to our customers. And basically try and pick up as much of the business that is in country, or prospective people that are still coming here.”
The general feeling is that things will get better.
Amado Badillo
“Yes, we think it’s going to be a short term decrease only. We expect that sometime in the very near future we should see an increase in traffic. Because we think that all the tourists that used to go to Europe and the Middle East, will now be diverting and coming hopefully to Belize and the Caribbean. So we do expect to see a mark increase in traffic.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
It should be noted that while Belize will continue to feel the effects of the bombings on September eleventh, what we will experience won’t be half as bad as many other Caribbean countries, whose economies are almost totally dependent on tourism.
