BTB to strengthen institution and broaden its outreach with partners

Michael Singh

So just how will that be accomplished within twelve months?  Well, the initial plan is to strengthen the BTB institution and broaden its outreach with partners.

Lindsay Garbutt, Chairman, BTB

“We are further committed to developing new strategies to meet the new and emergent challenges of our times. I can assure you that in developing these strategies, as the director has done, that we will count on stakeholders’ participation every step of the way.  Our goal is to forge a genuine partnership built on trust and shared goals and values.”

Michael Singh, CEO, Min. of Tourism

“We’ve been looking at trying to find the routes that make the most sense for the volume we have that match the type of traveller that comes into Belize. So have strategically been looking, for instance, we had a visit with Alaska Air about a month ago and that might sound very strange to you but Alaska Air is very large in the Pacific Northwest, which according to our statistics have shown that that is the type of passenger that likes to come to Belize; the people that like outdoor adventures. They’re a bit more adventurous and they have more disposable income.”

Seleni Matus, New Director of Tourism, BTB

“Launching a campaign to increase repeat visitation, converting cruise ship visitors to overnight visitors; they are already here at our shores. We keep mentioning issues of airlift capacity. We have the majority of our visitors coming through cruise ships and so we definitely look to implementing a very aggressive campaign to increase conversion of cruise ship visitors to overnight visitors. We’re also looking at penetrating the Canadian and European markets and other emerging markets in Latin America, our  neighbours; mainly Mexico, Guatemala and as far as Brazil for instance.”

Increasing training for frontline personnel and looking at ways to effectively bring European tourists to Belize is another area Matus and her team will work on.  Matus’ term took effect on Tuesday.  She replaces Tracy Taegar Panton.