High-level Government Delegation Meets with Cruise Stakeholders in Miami

A delegation of as many as six government officials, including Prime Minister John Briceño, Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler, Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay and Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner traveled to Miami on Thursday where meetings were held with the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association.  The importance of the discussions was to address issues pertaining to the future of development of cruise tourism in Belize, as well as to focus on a sustainable approach to such activity.  Representatives of the various cruise lines committed to working more closely with the Government of Belize and the private sector.

Nicole Usher-Solano, CEO, Ministry of Tourism

“As you know, cruise tourism is a very important component of the tourism industry.  We focus quite heavily, of course, on overnight tourism, but cruise is just as important.  When talking about post-COVID recovery, we know that the overnight sector is closer to 2019 figures than cruise tourism is, but it’s still very important.  So important that the prime minister and his delegation of cabinet ministers, we had six ministers with us, saw it very important to connect with member lines of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association and we did that in Miami, that’s where they are based.  We had been planning this meeting for some months and they were very happy to organize that meeting for us and bring together the main lines to have that discussion with the government.”

Isani Cayetano

“The round of meetings come at a time when there was some turbulence in the cruise tourism sector, in respect of developments that are being contested.  How was this received, because I am certain that they would have seen [commotion] or heard all the noise and stuff that’s happening on the home front here.  How was that received in the context of all that has been taking place?”

Nicole Usher-Solano

Nicole Usher-Solano

“Well definitely what happens in Belize and what is shown on the news in Belize is seen around the world.  So all of the matters related to the cruise port and cruise port development in Belize is no secret to the cruise lines, they know.  So that is something that they were concerned about and I think one of the main reasons why this meeting was so important was for us a government to go to them and let them know how serious we are about cruise and that the business of cruise tourism in Belize is something that we want to ensure sustainable development and longevity into the future.”