Tourism expected to boost with end of the Maya calendar
As the countdown to 2012 takes place, there’s worldwide focus on the end of the five thousand, one hundred and twenty-five year Mayan calendar. Some believe it is the end of the world while others consider it the start of a new era. In Belize, 2012 is expected to be a big year for tourism since the jewel sits in the heart of the Mundo Maya. SmarterTravel.com has listed the Mundo Maya countries among the top destinations to watch for 2012. Those include Belize along with Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. According to Smarter Travel, “themed tours and ceremonies throughout the year offer a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the ancient archeological sites and modern culture of the Maya people. In Belize, Maya cultural festivities include traveling exhibitions, a solstice sleepover at Caracol, and a large festival on December twenty-first, the estimated last day of the calendar.” To live up to those expectations, the Belize Tourism Board and NICH have announced big plans for the coming year to give visitors the Maya experience they will undoubtedly be seeking. According to the B.T.B., a packed calendar of Maya themed events is available online at belizemaya2012.com. 
Also, for the first time a Maya 2012 passport has been developed and is available to travelers until December twenty-first 2012. The passports cost twenty-five US dollars and will be stamped upon visiting each of the archeological sites. The annual La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge is also expected to bigger and better in 2012. And even the Central Bank is commemorating the countdown to December twenty-first 2012, by offering twenty-two carat gold proof and sterling Maya Mythical “End of the World” coins, starting in January.
Just don’t SELL WEED TO TOURIST …THEN ARREST THEM…that’s bad for business!!!
Let everybody be happy!!!
When we stop marketing to these broke a$$, obnoxious Americans and start figuring out how to properly market to European countries, then tourism will shine in Belize, once again. I am so sick of these broke Americans coming in my place of business trying to hustle me; this is NOT Mexico.
We want to market to Germans, French, Italians, Israelis, Scandinavians and wealthy Asians. Why?
Because they’re paid well enough to afford to visit these places AND they can take vacations long enough to do so.
check the stats on average annual vacation days by country:
Finland: 44
Italy: 42
France: 39
Germany: 35
UK: 25
Japan: 18
USA: 12
Please do not bring your dogs, cats or birds on vacation in Belize.
Animals do not know where Belize is and do not care.
Are you actually so stupid that you think your pet is happy to be in Belize?
Once they have some dirt to crap in…and some food they are happy.
They do not consider you to be their family. They love anyone who feeds them. SO WAKE UP!
We the Hotel Owners of Belize do not want your animals sleeping on our beds or we would have opened a pet motel.
Leave the Pets Home. OKAY
Our rate is $80., $90., $100., or whatever it is. NO, we can not let you stay for $30.
You will be checking out early at 5am, 6am, 7am, and just need the room to sleep, so you want a discount.
Are you stupid?
The room is still dirty and needs to be cleaned. Do you think housekeeping is going to be giving us a discount?
The rate is the same and if you do not have money…….stay home and do not go on vacation.
Belize is an expensive country.
Do you think we can go to the USA or Canada and ask for a discount at hotels?
If we do not have enough money in the bank account we can not even get a visa to visit!
I am from a religious or medical organisation and I am going to help save the savages in Belize. I am also a rich doctor making huge bucks and a crooked pastor who pays no taxes. I live in a huge mansion and drive fancy cars, but hey, it is getting cold outside. I want to come to warm Belize and stay in a 5 star hotel but pay only 1 star rates because I am in Belize (while it is freezing winter in north america) to help the poor and stupid savage Belizeans. This way I get a free holiday, cheap accommodations, tax write off while I help the poor and stupid. If you poor Belizeans do not give me your best rooms cheap I will go to the next hotel and hassle them. Eventually I the rich gringo will get my way.
HEY GRINGO!!! If you want to help the poor, stupid, ignorant Belizeans. Get a room that cost $xxx and pay the hotel instead $xxx,xxx. Make a deal with the owner that as long as your group stays you will pay double for the room and the hotel owner pays the staff double their wages. That way the Belizeans will not be poor and have to stand in long lines and wait like beggers for your “free” medical or spiritual help. And the Belizeans who do get your free medical or spiritual help will have some extra cash in their pocket. What do you think we do in Belize when you cheap bastards deal us down on the rooms? We lower the wages of the staff and they are the ones who suffer so you can have a great holiday.
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Our rate is $80., $90., $100., or whatever it is. NO, we can not let you stay for $30.
You will be checking out early at 5am, 6am, 7am, and just need the room to sleep, so you want a discount.
Are you stupid?
The room is still dirty and needs to be cleaned. Do you think housekeeping is going to be giving us a discount?
The rate is the same and if you do not have money…….stay home and do not go on vacation.
Belize is an expensive country.
Do you think we can go to the USA or Canada and ask for a discount at hotels?
If we do not have enough money in the bank account we can not even get a visa to visit!
I am extremely proud that the BTB are promoting Belize in the name of the Maya. Yes the word identify the indigenous Maya of Belize and what that means that their they have a right to owner ship for that advertisement. what I am saying is that the Maya of Belize must be properly compensated by any way means possible. Soon I will see flashes of the Mayan temples, artworks and Mayan people in various gift shops in Belize all displaying the fabulous true identity of the Mayan people. BTB or the Archeological Department have never mentioned how much revenues they generate from the Maya Archeological site and trademark – Maya. what I want to hear BTB say is how will the Maya of Belize will get direct benefit from this big plans of 2012. I want to see where the Mayan can say ” I have benefited due to the end of our Mayan Calender.” the significance of the end of the Mayan era is very important time in all of the present Maya. So, BTB, I challenge you to re-thing your best gifts for the Maya People of Belize.
Small Hotel… YOUR RANT DOES NOTHING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VISIT OUR COUNTRY.
A little COMMON SENSE goes a long way. You can’t insult people and expect then to like you.
Don’t forget….THE AMERICANS ARE THE BEST TIPPERS!!!
If you wonder why tourism is so low in Belize these days, it is because of comments like “I have awaken” and “Small hotel.” We “obnoxious” Americans have been feeling the tone of Belizean tourism change in the past two decades to a state of total greed. The feeling we get now visiting Belize is “give us your money and then get out.” I laugh when hotel owners who have doubled their rates for less than stellar rooms sit around wondering why they sit empty. THIS IS WHY WE DON’T COME TO BELIZE ANYMORE – YOUR GREED IS DISGUSTING! We still love Belize, but if all you want is our money, that shows through. Tourism is NOT just about money and the sooner you realize that, the sooner tourists will want to come back and visit.
Actually when I vist hotels in the USA, Orlando as an example I usually ask for some sort of a discount/upgrade etc… The discount varies from waiving the nightly parking fares to upgrading to a bigger room, or free breadfast for the kids etc… What is the worst thing that can happen from asking? probably a NO, so it is not far fetched at all. Keep in mind that I am not a hotelier so I don’t deal with the day to day hassles but asking for a discount should not be frowned upon. This season is a rough one…
Belize is the place to be.
Criminals hunt the streets for musicians and tourists.
The Zetas are now opening new BZ franchises, a non refundable murder down-payment is required.
Bad attitudes and collateral damage no extra charge. Drunk drivers, naturally.
#6 in the world for homicides, going for #1! Pay to be part of it!
Have tour boats cut off your limbs.
Or buy stolen weapons fresh from the military base to go hunting, whatever prey.
Or get raped and robbed to impress friends and family on vacation choices, great adventure stories.
Ride the western highway of death on your honeymoon, before dying together, make national news.
130,000 Belizeans permanently vacation in the US and Europe for a reason.
Well, i must say that i have found this commentary very interesting and disheartening. i will be arriving in Belize in one week and have been so looking forward to it. with all this negativity towards “we” tourists i am now wondering if i made a grave mistake. my husband and i will be celebrating our 10th anniversary and had visited Belize off of a crusie 5 years ago. always wanted to return for a more in depth stay. we love snorkeling and diving and had hoped to explore the country………
our hotel has been nothing but wonderful; very attentive and accomidating. i am hoping this will be an example of what our stay will be when we arrive.
sounds to me as if Small Hotel needs to find himself another career becasue its obvious customer service isnt one of his strong suits.