So, what is the B.B.A. prepared to do to resolve this issue? The members have threatened industrial action. That means that most major public transportation will not be operating because majority of the big operators are B.B.A. members. Metzgen told us today that as recent as last week, they had a meeting with Ruth Meighan, […]
The Garifuna Collective departed Belize today to start their North American tour which will take them to over ten states in the United Sates, as well as to different cities in Canada. This marks the second leg of the 2019 tour which kicked off in Europe back in June and concluded on Sunday. Today, before […]
Band members, Sam Harris and Marcela Aranda, also spoke to News Five to share their experience on the European leg of their 2019 tour. In June, the band made appearances at festivals and shows in Switzerland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Germany and the U.K. Harris and Aranda say that the crowds embraced the Garifuna […]
Despite the murder of a U.S. national recently in San Pedro that gave Belize a black eye in the international news, the Belize Tourism Board is touting a growth in visitor arrivals in the country in the first six months of the year. The B.T.B. states that both overnight and cruise ship arrivals increased. At […]
On Wednesday, the Belize Hotel Association met; today its partners in the industry, the Belize Tourism Industry and Association, held its thirty-fourth biannual general meeting in Belmopan. Stakeholders met at the George Price Centre where they were updated on the progress of several initiatives over the past six months, as well as new projects that […]
The tourism industry in Belize took a hit after U.S. doctor Gary Swank was murdered while vacationing on the island. Cabinet anticipated an adverse effect that could possibly cripple San Pedro’s economy and decided to meet urgently in order to design a crime prevention strategy for the island. After Doctor Swank and tour guide Mario […]
The shocking murders of a visiting U.S. doctor while on a fishing trip with a San Pedro tour guide is grabbing attention in the international press. The Doctor Gary Swank is highly respected and his community and family are reeling from his senseless murder. Already, the U.S. Embassy has issued an advisory on travel to […]
Outbreaks of communicable diseases, environmental challenges, poor health and wellness in the tourism workforce can result in closures of hotels and cruise ports which can lead to significant losses in revenue. These are some of the driving forces behind the Caribbean Public Health Agency and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation partnering to address issues affecting health and […]
The B.T.I.A. unveiled to its stakeholders and partner agencies a three-year plan for sustainable tourism in Belize. The objective of the symposium was to share details on how the association will assist its members in the transition to environmental friendly practices in an effort to maintain the vibrancy of the local tourism industry. As News […]
The United Nations Development Programme, through the National Appropriate Mitigation Action for Belize, is meeting with public and private stakeholders to focus on public transportation. The idea is to improve the public transportation system in Belize with a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by twenty percent by 2030. As it currently stands, members of […]
Local taxi and bus operators met today with Minister of Transport Edmond Castro and his cabinet colleague, Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia Junior in Belize City. Minister Castro first met with members of the Belize Bus Association to discuss pressing concerns relating to the transit of foreign buses from Guatemala and Mexico. As we reported, […]
In March, Minister of Transport Edmond Castro issued licenses to two Guatemalan-registered companies, Linea Dorado and Fuente del Norte, to transport passengers to and from Guatemala and Belize City. This caused the local operators to become infuriated because, they say, they have been consistently complaining that Guatemalan authorities refused them to do the same. Today, […]
Speaking of behalf of operators was Chairman of the Bus Terminal Market Square Taxi Cooperative Mark Humes and President of the Belize Bus Association Thomas Shaw. Both men said that they hope that what was discussed today comes to fruition in order to passively address the concerns raised. Mark Humes, Chairman, Bus Terminal Market […]
At this time, Belizeans travelling for the Easter holidays have already hit the highways or have arrived at their destinations. But for others, the religious aspect of the holiday is what keeps the family together at home. Duane Moody took to the streets to find out what’s the plan for the weekend. Duane Moody, […]
If you are travelling across the northern border into Mexico, whether to head to Chetumal, Cancun or Playa Del Carmen for the extended weekend, official travel documents remain the same. So you must present a valid Belizean passport or the Mexican card to enter into that country. A publication recently surfaced online from a Mexican […]
According to the Officer in Charge of the Economic, Trade and Tourism Section of the Mexican Embassy, by law travellers will only be able to enter into Mexico with a valid passport or the Mexican border card for those Belizeans that have one. On the Phone: Maria Fernanda Garrido, Officer in Charge, Economic, Trade […]
The Ministry of Tourism, Belize Tourism Board and the San Pedro Town Council inaugurated the Boca Del Rio Beach and Park this weekend. A beachfront was reclaimed along with the construction of a swimming area and the sea wall was reinforced. These developments are all a part of the B.T.B.’s plan to develop and enhance […]
Today, local bus and taxi operators met in Belize City to discuss what they say is a continued economic threat by foreign bus companies. The operators say that Mexican and Guatemalan bus companies which have been operating in the country are doing so with several perks and privileges not afforded to local operators. They say […]
Small tour guides are ramping up their protest at the lack of jobs even though, the B.T.B. continues to report significant increases in tourist arrivals. Today at the ITVET Compound in Belize City, members of the Belize City Tourism Zone Tour Operators and Workers Association staged a press conference to share the plight of the […]
The Belize Bus Association remains at odds with the Department of Transport tonight after two Guatemalan bus operators were given licenses to traffic passengers to and from Guatemala to Belize City. Fuente del Norte and Linea Dorado now join the ADO bus line to transport persons from Guatemala and Mexico, respectively. The local bus association […]
Transport woes are brewing once again. Today, police were on alert monitoring the area of the bus terminal on East Collet Canal and reportedly at the western border point. This is because there was a report that the authorities would not have allowed passengers to disembark at the terminal. Word is that a local bus […]
It took years to move from the drawing board to its ground breaking, but the Stake Bank project is finally on its way. On Wednesday, the symbolic launch of the multi-million dollar investment got underway at its unique location just outside Belize City. With an injection of eighty-two million dollars, the cruise port facility is […]
Stake Bank Cruise Port is one step closer to becoming a reality, following a groundbreaking ceremony this morning for the construction of a premier docking facility for cruise ships in Belize City. The twenty-five acre island on which the facility will be built will feature tendering, shopping, cultural attractions and beaches. It also promises to […]
At a recent press conference FECTAB President, Yhony Rosado raised concerns on two issues he says that Belize City tour guides would feel the negative effects of. According to Rosado, tour guides in the Old Capital will be negatively impacted by the introduction of a foreign tour company and the redirection of Norwegian Cruise Line’s […]
If you’ve been at the Philip Goldson International Airport on a Saturday then you might have noticed the long lines of international visitors attempting to enter the country. The snaking lines have been having an effect on passengers who have connecting flights to the islands. So what’s causing the long delays and processing? In December […]
