Belizean tour operators concerned about Mexican proposals.
As the good weather months approach, those in the tourism industry say they are as prepared as they will ever be to handle what is expected to be another busy tourist season. And with the Belize Tourist Board reporting increasing numbers of arrivals dating back to the first quarter of last year, one would think that tour operators and hoteliers would be happy campers. But appearances don’t always tell the whole story. At a meeting on Wednesday called by the National Tour Operators Association, some serious concerns were brought to the attention of the Minister of Tourism, Henry Young.
Sandra Aguilar, Board Member, Belize Tour Operators
“We want to make sure that we have an input in whatever may be signed. We, the private sector have to live with it. We are the ones that have to be on the road, we are the ones that are working out there and we are very concerned that we get our fair share of whatever may be in it for us.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Belizean tour operators say that for the past seven years, they have been noticing an increase in what they call the blatant disregard for policies with which some foreign operators have been allowed to work in the country. Sandra Aguilar is one of those tour operators.
Sandra Aguilar
“Over the years we have had foreign operators coming in and working the high season and leaving. They don’t have an office, they don’t employ people, they come in with their vehicle, they do business and at the end of the season they send their vehicle and go with it. At the Mexican border we have vehicles crossing in. We see them with their vehicles, tours, microphones everything running, conducting tours in our country and we are sitting down watching.”
Aguilar says they have been noticed lately that there is even the abuse of an agreement made sometime ago with the Ministry of Tourism. That agreement allows up to twenty buses at a time to travel daily from Melchor de Mencos through Belize to Chetumal, making one stop at the Maritime Terminal at the foot of the Swing Bridge. But according to Aguilar dropping off tourists for the local water taxis is not the only thing they’ve been doing.
Sandra Aguilar
“But they also pick up. They also pick up people to take back, and no matter where they are, they could be on the road, they could be at the museum, they could be wherever. They do pick up people to take back. Now that portion we believe should be for a Belizean operator. So we see these things coming along and we’ve been concern and we’ve been voicing our opinions.”
Tour operators say they also have serious reservations about a recent Mexican Transport Proposal. The operators believe the document will somehow be used to formulate a Trade Agreement between Belize and Mexico. While a treaty between the two countries is nowhere near being signed, operators say that from what they have seen of the proposals so far, it looks like Mexican tour operators have only their own best interests at heart.
Sandra Aguilar
“So when they speak of transportation they speak of 45 seater buses, luxury this, luxury that and all types of things. The least the sizes they are looking at and the least they will accept is a 16 seat passenger vehicle. Now if you look around Belize we all work with small vehicles, for various reasons: Cost, we cannot afford to buy bigger vehicles.”
Aguilar says local tour operations have already been affected by the easy and unlimited access to Belize that foreign operators have been enjoying.
Sandra Aguilar
“We are getting from our wholesalers from abroad, especially the Germans, the Europe section, they want my making reservations for them, they don’t need my transportation, they don’t need my guide. Now I am very strict when it comes to that. My law says there must be a local guide onboard and that’s what I implement on them. I don’t care if they bring a tour conductor, or an interpretation, but one of my boys will be on that tour.”
During a meeting held on Wednesday, over sixty tour operators and representatives of the hotel association formed a working group. to come up with counter proposals which they hope will safeguard their own best interests.
Also at Wednesday?s meeting in Belize City, Tourism Minister Henry Young assured the tour operators that no agreement will be signed without their consultation.
