Agreement signed for IDB tourism project

Fresh on the heels of impressive statistics on tourist arrivals, Minister of Tourism Mark Espat today signed an agreement to access loan funds for improvements in tourism related infrastructure. The project documents signed by Espat and Inter-American Development Bank President Enrique Iglesias, provide for an eleven million U.S. dollar loan and seven hundred thousand dollar grant, with the Government of Belize putting up three million U.S. dollars in counterpart funding. The money will be used to conserve and improve access to Belize’s major ancient Maya sites as well as to construct a water and sewerage system for Caye Caulker. A training component will also establish a corps of local experts to help upgrade the skills of workers in the private sector.