Tour of Caves Branch with BakaBush, the company at center of controversy
The tourism industry has still not fully recovered from the decline in visitors from countries whose nationals traditionally visit Belize. So every penny and every job in the industry is aggressively sought. Late last week, a statutory instrument was signed to declare Caves Branch an Archaeological Reserve and to prevent tour operators from outsourcing guide jobs to foreign entities. All this has bearing on a one year contract granted to BakaBush, a company co-owned by Jamaican investors. While stakeholders say they prefer only locals to work as guides, others say the primary issue should be that of service. News Five’s Isani Cayetano, talks to both sides and got a perspective from visitors in the following report.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting 
The constant hum of activity inside the Fort Street Tourism Village has for years meant big business for stakeholders in the cruise tourism industry. FSTV, as it is commonly known, is the epicenter of business for many tour operators. Here, passengers onboard Carnival are ferried from the cruise ship which is moored about a mile or so offshore to a harbor at the mouth of the Belize River. On the compound is a fleet of vehicles that shuttle visitors to and from inland destinations. Among the competing operators is BakaBush Adventures, a Belizean company that is now majority owned by a foreign interest. While its employees board tourists bound for Caves Branch, Altun Ha and other archaeological sites unto waiting buses small operators like Vitalino Reyes are often jobless. To make matters worse they are in the middle of a slow season. Their usual numbers have seen a sharp decline.
vitalino reyes
Vitalino Reyes, Independent Tour Operator
“Today we only had a group of seven, seven, that’s fourteen; it’s only about sixteen. Normally you use to have thirty, thirty-five, you know, half of what I use to get I’m getting now because the other bad part that they do is to try to bring out the people that booked with them first and they try to put everybody out, the ones that [are] booking with independent tour operators.”
At the heart of this problem is a selective agreement between Carnival Cruise Line and the parent company of BakaBush Adventures, a Jamaican-based outfit known as Chukka Caribbean Tours. Operators argue that the contract has led to a stifling of the industry. Between similar trips to Caves Branch there is a striking difference. Buses for BakaBush Adventures leave the tourist village within a few minutes of each other while those belonging to its rivals remain parked for hours pending an excursion.
Yonni Rosado, Tour Operator, Cave-tubing.com
yonni rosado
“With this coming up to BakaBush/Chukka Caribbean Tour we are very disadvantaged and the numbers have dropped down drastically. We have purchased now seven buses. I have a couple of tour guides that work on commission on a daily basis so if I don’t make money they don’t make money. Today I brought down two buses, we only take thirty-seven people and the other bus is still here waiting.”
Echoing that sentiment is Jorge Torres, an independent tour guide.
Jorge Torres, Independent Tour Guide
“We noh mek no money like before. Before we use to mek money. Everyday we use to make money but now we noh mek nothing sake ah di same thing weh di happen now. Soh we wahn know what’s going on, what happen with this thing noh.”
Rosado and others stick around waiting for passengers while the crew of eighty employed by BakaBush Adventures is busy preparing guests for their cave tubing expedition.
Edmund Nisbet, Operations Manager, BakaBush Adventures
edmund nisbet
“We have a main greeting point. When they arrive here we have a meet and greet area where they get a brief description of the place, the environment. What not to take on the tour. Where the snacks and the water and different stuff can be purchased. Where the lockers and, you know, basically, a basic information, a basic overview of the operation.”
During the overview guests are also given safety tips that are important in preventing fatalities.
augustine garcia
Augustine Garcia, Safety Officer, BakaBush Adventures
“We make sure that our guests, whenever they’re gonna go on a tour, they are well equipped for the trip. So we make sure that they have on their helmets and they have on proper PFD, personal floatation devices. As you can see we have them over there that we normally use for our guests and also we also make sure that they’ve got proper footwear. You know we don’t them walking in flip flops or slippers going on the trail. There’s too many things that they can get hurt. And even inside the cave it’s really, it’s not safe. It’s really dangerous and so for that reason we make sure that they are properly attired for the trip.”
Edmund Nisbet
“We start here, walk across the river where you see the stairs over there and the tourists then begin their hike about twenty-five minutes to the beginning of the actual floating part of the tour and they float down for the remaining of the time and this is where they end.”
Isani Cayetano
“The issue of a contract awarded to Chukka/BakaBush Tours by Carnival Cruise Line for exclusive shore excursions to Caves Branch has caused quite a stir within the local cruise tourism industry. It is not difficult to understand why tour operators are up in arms over this controversial contract.”
The past week alone has seen much being said about the industry’s current situation as a result of that arrangement. The crux of the argument involves the use of this ancient Maya cavern by Bakabush for extreme adventures without having to pay for access. While that will soon change thanks to a recent statutory instrument that was signed by the Minister of Tourism the location, on the other hand, has remained ideal for eco-tourism.
Tourist
“Absolutely beautiful. Beautiful sights, beautiful rocks, very good guides. The guides were excellent.”
And as visitors meander along the waterway taking in the sights and sounds of this natural wonder some operators who feel they are being shut out of business are left trying to find an answer.
Jiovan Pascascio, Freelance Tour Guide
jiovan pascasio
“My opinion and what I would put down as a resolution is that instead of having one big company which is not a Belizean company, you know, have them take up at least a portion of the people that coming off of the cruise ship. For example if a thousand people is coming off of the cruise ship, five hundred give to them because they have the contract you know. We can’t take that back you understand me, but give them that; regulate the carrying capacity of how many people coming off and especially here. You don’t want too much people coming here as well. Then give the other five hundred to the locals. Let us battle it.”
That however, is an equally difficult challenge considering the fact that tourists onboard Carnival aren’t being given an option which tour operators they could choose from.
Isani Cayetano
“Were you given an option as to which tour operator you could have chosen to participate in the expedition through this cave?”
Tourist #1
“I don’t believe so. I think it was just the excursion on the cruise line.”
Tourist #2
“I actually looked it up in the internet and the site that came up was this one that we took and it was an amazing tour. We absolutely loved Belize. We will definitely be back.”
Tourist #3
“Carnival said that you, they only offer their cruise. Their tour and then to get this tour we had to like look online because of course Carnival is charging a hundred US dollars for what the Extreme Cave Tubing is charging fifty dollars. So they kinda scare you into it a little bit by saying if you don‘t book with Carnival they‘re going to leave you if you‘re not back in time. So that’s how they get you to pay the extra fifty dollars but they’re getting everybody back on time. They’re gonna have at least two hours left in the port to shop and do whatever we need to do. So don’t book with Carnival.”
While some might not book inland tours with Carnival it is clear nonetheless that those who do are quite contented with the quality of service BakaBush Adventures offers cruise tourists who prefer sightseeing off the beaten path. Reporting for News Five, Isani Cayetano.
Doesn’t the government control who gets work permits? Why give work permits to foreign tour guides if there are Belizean tour guides who need work?
The issue is not the tourist. Tourist #3 is right, Carnival offers a lot of on shore excursions & the fares paid by its passengers do not reflect local rates & I do believe that their employees will strongly suggest that if they do not go with Carnival’s program, they may be left behind. In other words, Carnival gets its 25 or 50 % upfront. It is no different from what they do in other places like Mexico where they charge $35-40 for a $5.00 ride. Since kickbacks are illegal in the states, no company would ever think of negotiating in international waters or use shadow companies to screw over passengers & claim ignorance when they are caught, there is no reason to believe that Carnival would do such a thing. Wink wink.
Mr.(s) Nisbet & Garcia are their front people for a reason & the people at the top need to understand that most tourists just want to have a good time & return home safely & do not care who caters to their needs, as long as those needs are met. Again take a look at Carnival’s staff. As a guest, if you do not challenge them, their staff will automatically add 20% gratuity to your tab & have the cute blond with the European accent at the service desk on board explain why the $2.00 drink costs $10.00 or more on your tab.
In addition to promoting the trips they sanction, customers are given the option & encouraged to attach the cruise ship’s card to their credit card for “convenience” which can be used to pay for amenities not included in the basic price like day trips, beverages & gratuities & unless BTB, FECTAB & the Ministers negotiate including dependable, insured local operators flyers in the package the cruise ships give to their customers, promote on their TV & give us the option to ride on their ships & promote our folks, we will continue to look like beggars standing outside the master’s gate waiting for crumbs.
Does “TOURIST TRAP” mean anything???????
Poor educated belizeans,feel sorry for them,government gives away turist concesions to aliens.in doing so those criminals in power take away the daily bread from this poor belizeans from their table to eat,
This happened because BakaBush has made the necessary investment in training and equipment to make sure they offer a service at int’l stds. Carnival has had problems with mediocre service from many of the local tour operators for years, just ask cruise solutions and Belitur. BTW my passport now says, CARICOM, that means that we can’t call a Jamaican company foreign anymore. If we step up we can go do the same thing in their country or in Barbados, Trinidad etc. It’s just about stepping up to the next level. As a freelance guide I used to work for all the companies mentioned above and several others, Bakabush always demanded higher quality service. That’s good for the industry and good for Belize.
Kinslito, you made a good point about been in CARICOM. Unfortunately the vast majority of Belizeans businesses will feel the pinch because they are too lay back and take things for granted. We can now go to their country and find a nitch market if we have the busines skill to compete, but that will be difficult, if for no other reason Belizeans need the big “C” capital. then come experience, becaue without experience big capital will vanish quickly. In the land of the midget I’m a giant if I’m 6′ tall. I will make a bet that within ten years the vast amount of business that are so-call Belize own that is worth while taken over will deminish drastically to foreign investors from within Caricom. And this foolishness talk about go home is all rubish.
Belizean Tour Guides…. take my foolish advice…… Step up ,or shet up!!!! This is what globalization is all about. What with Belize being a member of Caricom and all that. It’s hard Bredren, but it’s fair. Once you are dealing with international markets, you have to broaden your perspective and rise to the challenges. Tourists pay top dollars for cruises and expects and demands nothing but premium service. So, unless you even appear to be able to provide same, you will literally be locked out of the pearly gates of the “tourism Village.”
Well, well, well. As it seems, we may be doomed. Hate to be this pessimistic but look on the trend. We gat fuel and weh di money deh? All a wi groceries stores… weh di money deh? Now di chiney man dem di get eena vheicle parts and accessories, even eena hardware. Come on now you all readers, what else we have weh di generate cash and …. weh di money deh? Now di lee hope eena wi tourist business? A know some smart elek out deh wah say we haf to be competetive. Nothing wid competetive, belizeans should be first. I bet if somebady else start wah new money making thing going on, i bet we wah mek farinas kom in an take ova bekaas dem competitive. MAN DIS NO DI MEK SENCE. Now a no di support krimes but unu no tink dis dah some a di root cause a krime? NO MONEY NO DEH. MAN HAAFI EAT, MAAN GAT BILLS FI PAY. MAN GAT PICKENY FI TAKE CARE OF. DAH PURE SHAME, DAH ONLY 300,000+ A WI AND WE ALL DI EENA POVATY NEARLY. NO DI MEK SENCE BREDDA. Jamaica, honduras, guatemala el salvador, china, taiwan and di rest a dem weh di kome ya, all a dem place far ahead a belize. More development deh dah dem place so when we wah get developed? We kant pen pan di govament. Deh dah bad business
LOUISVILLE MEK A GI U WAH LEE HISTRY.
MEMBA the USAID? U know bout valley a peace? Well mek a open u eye wah leebit. Dem pipple weh gaan settle deh dem get help fi stan pan deh foot. USAID klean down di bush fi dem, deh gi dem seed, fertaliza, plus deh gi dem rice, beans, milk, chicken every week, mi fi mek deh kudda get pan deh foot. So now luisville, if dis tourist ting di look good, just di get groovy, and we breddas get chisel out fast ting, tink deh wah kud stan up pan deh foot like di pipple fram valley a peace or addas? All a we breddas weh get pushed out a business wat u tink wah happen wid di money di addas mek? U tink di chnieyman di put bak money eena dis kountry? Figga u kudda get wah lee jab wid dem? Tink Natural energy di put bak money eena dis kountry? Figa dem jamaican tour guide company wah put bak money eena dis kountry? Deh don di employ deh kontryman, so none fi we. Wake up bredda or we wah all haf fi work fi slave pay fi di farinas an dah no bekaas deh kom wid money fi invest. Da bekaas we low dem fi get choice a wi revenues and mek it big time. WAKE UP U ALL!!!!! SEE DI WRITING ON DI WALL!!!!!
mein one tourist dead and everything gone to ….now a new company come and upgrade we standards and unu still de rail up what unu want fi a next accident happen take heed follow de example either follow the leaders or step aside but no hold others dat want to improve meaning get the hell outta de way
jerry, u made a very good point! i believe u one hundred percent!
we are having alot of foreign investers in belize,but we don’t see where the money is going that they are making out of the belizeans.
chinese are populating our country north to south east to west and the cayes!!
they don’t even contribute to our economic and social developement of this country..only some of the foreign investors contribute! we need this government to do something as soon as possible!
our families and friends need to put food on the table and send their kids to school and also pay the bills, so it is very important that belizeans gain from their own country
Mein! I’m sorry for my poor Belizeans. Government nuh worry once they get their share, everything fine. Bakabush just di laugh at the poor Belizeans. Why fi we country so corrupted? The rich the get richer the poor the get poorer. Unu nuh see the manion bakabush owners the build ina Belize. Unu go fi unu one. Belizeans First! Straight Talk!
Jerry……..Ah yer yuh loud ahn clear mi Bredda, specially since yuh gimme ahm enna raw kriol.
But let me say this…….Charity my man, begins at home. Do you know why all the foreign businesses succeed and the ones owned by locals dwindle so that indigenous Belizeans are reduced to Peons? WE DO NOT SUPPORT EACH OTHER!!! We truely suffer from the,” crab in the barrel mentality.”
I used to see with my own two eyes, our people walk right past locally owned grocery stores and go lenghty distances to patronise Chineese shop owners. Their arguement was that the Chiney man things were a few cents cheaper. But check this…….. when they needed credit that’s when they USED the local Grocers for their convenience. The Ushers and the Mckenzies and others are right there in Dangriga to tell you why they are no longer in the grocery business. And such malice existed not only the grocery business. Fact of the matter is, the same exact mentality obtains across the board in other undertakings with regards to us supporting each other.
Sad to say, while we sit around , “bad minding” each other, the foreigners come to the promised land, the Jewel of the Caribbean and central American isthmus and work togather and capitalize and take advantage of their new found Paradise.
Really and truely, you cannot blame outsiders for being agressive in going after their dreams of a better life. After all, as foreigners in America, we are viewed the same way especially by African Americans. They don’t like us because we show them up as being laid back and indecisive, content to wait on Uncle Sam to give them hands out, thus extending that state of mental slavery.
So. My fellow Belizeans……. get with the program!!!!!!!! Sitting down and complaining or waiting for the Government of the day to breast feed you just won’t cut it. If you do, then it will be more of the same. More foreigners will continue to come, because word is out there, Belize is NO longer mother nature’s best kept secret. And what will happen is , one day you will come to your sences and find that you are as ‘Aliens’ in the land of your birth…….. wondering, what the HELL HAPPENED!!!
Ditto above.