FECTAB says zoning at Tourism Village untimely

The high season in the tourism industry is about to get off, but before tourism dollars can be made; several overbearing matters are already falling off the plate of cruise tourism stakeholders. The latest issue involves zoning to regulate the chaotic Fort Street Tourism Village which has resulted in the displacement of seasoned tour operators who earn their living at the village. The outspoken people at the Federation for Cruise Tourism Association of Belize (FECTAB) are not objecting to the zoning, but they are taking issue with the timing and are railing up that the foreign investors are calling the shots. News Five Delahnie Bain has the following.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

The latest quandary in the tourism industry is a zoning project at the Fort Street Tourism Village. It doesn’t sound like a bad idea, but FECTAB does not agree with the timing.

Troy Gabb, Secretary, FECTAB

“While we do not have any difficulty in making the place look good, it is important that we make sure everybody gets a fair chance of making a fair living and this is where we believe there has to be much more dialogue. It’s a bit too risky right now at this point in time to actually embark on doing that project while we’re in the high season. I think it’s something that should wait until the low season sometime in the summer then let us do all the trial runs and take the bugs out.”

Apart from the timing, the project is also leaving at least nine tour operators displaced.

troy gabb

Troy Gabb

“Over the last ninety or so days there has been a significant trend where the Fort Street Tourism Village is cleaning the floor, meaning that all those tour operators who were in there for a long time, for many years, who have been paying their rent on time found themselves receiving letters that they are to be removed from the village by a certain date. Of course they use these clauses that they have this mutual agreement that they can take you out at any time. What is sinister is that there is a significant amount of tour operators being taken out the village at a time when we’re having this discussion and we’re looking to go into zoning and then you’re going to be adding these people, crowding up outside along with the crowd already outside. So we don’t see the sense in that, one. And we don’t see the economic sense why the Fort Street Tourism Village would seek to lose the revenue that they are getting at this point in time from those people who are paying their rent in the village.”

Tom Greenwood, FECTAB

tom greenwood

“Diamonds International have fired the Belizean managers within their ranks and brought in God knows who. So we have a dual situation. Now Diamonds International has joined the melee because Belizeans are on the outside without a job. Most of them have to seek a job while operators simply went outside and tried to do the best they could. So what is happening?”

According to FECTAB Secretary, Troy Gabb, the international investors are calling the shots.

Troy Gabb

“The answer we get when the question is asked to the Belizean management is that it is the instruction they have from Miami, meaning Royal Caribbean/Diamonds International. So we are a bit puzzled why this sort of dictation is being done if it is true and why are we as a country allowing ourselves—this is Belizean soil and we don’t have an opportunity to be in there to meet our guests?”

So how does the industry move forward? Gabb thinks the answer is the new cruise terminal in Port Loyola, which he says would create four thousand jobs.

Troy Gabb

“I think the effort should be to look at the new cruise terminal in Port Loyola and then find ways because that is one hundred percent Belizean owned and Belizeans can participate in that as well because every discussion we have with the developer clearly states that everything is up to the government and so at this point in time with all the industries in trouble, I think this is one can be salvaged. Within eighteen months we would have a cruise terminal where ships can actually dock and the tourists are able to stay longer. When people stay longer they spend more money.”

Tom Greenwood

“We need a summit, we need it quickly, we need the B.T.B. to put on the brakes. Please give the BTB the authority. These people are professionals, they’re professionals. We need to put on the breaks. Hold a summit with all the players or representatives of the players. Let’s get to the bottom of this and let’s sort it out and then roll into the New Year.”

Delahnie Bain for News Five.