B.T.B. holds summer training for teens

We are not sure if the participants will go on to be tour guides, hoteliers, or seek other employment in the tourism sector, but that is what the Belize Tourism Board is hoping as it certified twenty young men and women following a two-week summer programme.

Tracy Taegar-Panton, Director, Belize Tourism Board
?The summer youth programme is an initiative we started three years ago, with a goal to sensitise young students in secondary school to look at tourism as a meaningful career and to be exposed to the many attractions and activities we have in Belize. A lot of young students, when we go to the schools to talk to them, say they?ve never been to a particular site, or they haven?t had much exposure in tourism, and we felt this was one way of highlighting the diversity of the country and the potential of tourism to impact their lives in a meaningful way.?

?The programme focused a lot on creating some exposure at the various attractions and sites, took them to various destinations, had them interact with the tourism professionals on private sector part, so they can learn from their experiences. So it was really a very active two weeks for the students.?

The high school students included fifteen girls and five boys.