Mexico and Belize sit to talk tourism opportunities

The Embassy of Mexico in Belize along with its Ministry of Tourism organized an excursion to the Jewel to forge a new relationship through multi-destination tourism. Many tourists and backpackers from Europe do not simply desire to see one country when they cross the ocean. That is why at a power breakfast at the Best Western Biltmore, representatives of tourism sectors in both countries met and discussed how to begin to formulate a joint travel package for the neighboring countries.

H.E. Mario Velázquez Suarez, Ambassador of Mexico

Mario Velázquez Suarez

“It’s an excellent opportunity to have these people from Yucatan because we want to share with Belize the opportunities we have in the tourist industry. We share many things. We are countries that for us, for Belize and Mexico, tourist is an important industry. And we have so many things to share. We can share or we can go together in this future.”

Alyssa Carnegie

Alyssa Carnegie, Director, Marketing & Industry Relations, B.T.B.

“For the longest time Mexico and Belize have been viewed more as competitors as opposed to partners. But there is a lot to be derived from a partnership between Belize and Mexico. So we are very excited from the B.T.B. and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture standpoint that the Embassy of Mexico in Belize along with the Yucatan Hotel Association decided to have this breakfast, put us together. We feel that this is the first initiative but not of its kind initiative. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture has actually currently discussing with the Ministry of Tourism of Mexico to sign a memorandum of understanding and they are beginning negotiations for our trade agreement in a larger context, framework, with the overall government of Mexico. So there is a lot being done to establish a foundation between Belize and Mexico. Mexico is already well established in the region and the world for tourism. They tend to a lot of marketing efforts from different countries because their budget is so large, their efforts are so big; they are very aggressive. And that’s fantastic. But I think what they are beginning to realize is that there is a lot of people who while like the comforts and the convenience that Mexico has to offer, they want something more. They are becoming more familiar and Belize is so unfamiliar. So for Belize there is a great opportunity there.”

Santiago Gonzalez Abreu, Marketing Director, Mexican Ministry of Tourism

Santiago Gonzalez Abreu

“We’re here to promote Yucatan and Mexico; we think we have common things selling to people of Belize. We think Belize is great market for tourism through Yucatan. I think we have all the strengths to start developing a new relationship with Belize.”

Jose Sanchez

“Most of the presentation concentrated on the beauty and natural wishness within Mexico itself. How do you see that to this country being that it is also marketing the same thing?”

Santiago Gonzalez Abreu

“We think Belize has amazing places—you have nature, you have the sea and you have many things to offer. But we have things that compliment our offer like the infrastructural in hotels, in malls, in hospitals. We can offer things that might compliment our product.”

Jose Sanchez

“Is there any initiative since there were mentioned flights out of the Mexico to maybe share with both Mexico and Belize to Europe or to America? We are working in the Merida Chicken. We are trying to open a new flight from Merida or another Mayan place to belzie and start working a new relationship with belzie, Guatemalan, Nicaragua, el Salvador and connect the entire Mayan work.”

The representative from Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism will return shortly to Belize to meet with tour operators.