Tourism controversy on the way to amicable solution
The Belize Tourism Board on Wednesday afternoon called a special meeting with stakeholders in the cruise tourism industry to discuss the current state of affairs. In light of public disagreement by FECTAB over the contract awarded to Chukka/Bakabush Tours, BTB has stepped in to mediate the situation. As CEO Mike Singh stated prior to the sit-down, representatives of FECTAB had indicated that they would not be in attendance. Present at the meeting were six associations including Chukka/Bakabush, the Fort Street Tourism Village and the National Institute of Culture and History. According to Singh the organizations who attended the emergency meeting were not in agreement with the position that FECTAB has taken. Singh went on to say that they are still in the process of dialogue to resolve the solution amicably. Other developments coming out of the meeting was the signing of a statutory instrument which now requires visitors to Caves Branch to pay a fee for use of the site. Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia has also indicated that he will present to Cabinet on Tuesday a moratorium on the issuance of licenses to foreign tour operators.
It seems FECTAB wants its own monopoly — and that’s just as bad for the country.
Competition improves the breed.
As long as foreign operators are required to hire mainly Belizean guides, it will help Belize’s people. And isn’t that who is supposed to be running this government?
At least everyone is talking & hopefully this will end up in the lessons learned column. Mr. Singh mentioned that he has never seen Belizean operators at any of the conventions he has attended. Booths for most conventions are expensive & beyond the reach of small operators & that is one of the things that he, BTB & FECTAB need to work on together. They can identify the operators who meet safety standards, are insurable & insured & a;; chip in to hire someone to do a visually appealing package & have someone who is knowledgeable & has great communication skills promote it.
Mr. Heredia, looking out for Belizeans is always a good move, it will help to rehabilitate your image, keep practicing, you will manage to keep those feet out your mouth. I still think you owe all Belizeans an apology though. Just apologize, don’t explain.
We do not need foreigners to do our tourism business in Belize.I strongly believed that belizeans are smart enoughs to runs criuses ships tours and it should be 100 % pure belizean’s owners and guides, so we can boost the economy and leave the money in Belize.
We do not need Jamacian to run our show , because my kids would be working for them in the future . The Fact is That Foreigners should be working for us , this is Belize (BELIZEANS FIRST).
You need to go back to Jamacia
PROUD TO BE BELIZEAN ABROAD.
Yes it would be nice to see the Belizians run their own businesses especially in the tourism area. But we have a problem and that is corruption. It seems that only a few people ever seem to benefit from any industry in this small country. I have observed the goings on in this country for a number of years and i can see it not getting better with any of the parties in power. They pay people to vote for them and as poor people are they accept that token payment and vote for that person who then does nothing but line his and his families own pockets. They turn out good people who are doing a good job just because they did’nt vote for them. Belize will never be a great place to live until all people are treated equal.
In my observation this is a wealthy country (natural resources) and all could live well if the people in power would care about the people. I just don’t understand a person or people who would not want to leave a legacy of doing good for it’s people instead leave a legacy of violence and corruption. Jose Cruz is a prime example he has fought for the people of Belize with diabetes and other disabilities and he can barely exist. Where are these rich businessmen and government officials doing to help take care of people like him oh i forgot they are busy making their millions and the average person does not count. Remeber the French Revolution and the American Revolution what happened to those people. Take note. Feed the poor and house and educate them and they will be your support forever.
agree with bznicali most of the workshop expensive
with are not those free as mater of fact belizeans poor right now….we no need foregniers to run our business..i have been runin busines for qa year now to be sincere al i have got i 5 gues in my resort ,….imagine dat…becasue ppl from abrode coem to belize n tek all our moeny…so….help belize ..build belize…give belizeans a job…..thats is y so much killing and bad thing goin n casue we no have job….