Belize takes over leadership of C.A. tourism body

In the country this week are tourism representatives from across Central America. The purpose of their visit is to discuss and approve the Tourism Semester Plan, which Belize will be spearheading as part of our responsibilities as Pro Tem President of SICA, the Central American Integration System. This afternoon Minister of Tourism Godfrey Smith officially took over the six-month chairmanship of the Central American Tourism Council from Costa Rica.

Martin Mora, Min. of Tourism Rep., Costa Rica
“During the Pro Tem Presidency of SICA held by Costa Rica, one of the key elements was support of the integration of tourism through the Central American Tourism Council. For this reason, during our term we emphasised the execution of the strategic plan for sustainable tourism development with support of the technical secretariat of the executive committee COMECATUR and CATA, which enabled important advances in initiatives and areas of priority for our Central American countries.”

Godfrey Smith, Min. of Tourism
“Some of the expected outcomes or things that we will work hard to continue have been mentioned by my friend from Costa Rica and that includes the Geographic Information System, which will try to compile relevant information, statistical data for planning purposes, continue the action plan for the regional routes. … Implementing training and assistance programmes for oriented to the financial sector for project development and financing; implementing training courses and seminars in order to improve technical capabilities and the quality of the tourism service for private and public sector with the support of Spanish Cooperation.”

In recent years, Central America’s tourism industry has rebounded from the tarnish of political upheavals of the 1980s. Belize continues to straddle the line when it comes to being identified as a Caribbean or Central American destination.