There is good news for the tourism industry tonight. For the second year in a row, Ambergris Caye has been named Mexico and Central America’s leading Destination at the 2016 World Travel Awards. The awards ceremony took place last Friday in Lima, Peru and once again Belize has won. Dubbed the Oscars of the tourism […]
The Hilton brand of hotels and resorts is coming to Belize, on La Isla Bonita to be precise. The announcement was made today in San Pedro that Mahogany Bay Village is partnering with the iconic hospitality chain through one of its brands, Curio. With tourism numbers trending upwards, Mahogany Bay is investing eighty million dollars […]
While we were in San Pedro, News Five asked Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia Junior about the much needed Belize City cruise port. For years, there has been a request from the various cruise lines for a docking facility for the larger oasis ships that will make its route to Belize and the Central American […]
A new interregional tourism campaign was unveiled simultaneously across seven Central American countries this morning. Under the banner “Central America is Yours, Enjoy it”, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, in partnership with the Belize Tourism Board and B.T.I.A., launched the campaign locally. The purpose is to encourage travel within the region by motivating […]
The participating agencies have worked closely to design special packages that aim to show the true value of tourist attractions in Central America through social media and website placements. John Burgos, Executive Director, B.T.I.A. “Looking at it on a bigger picture, the strategic, sustainable development plan of tourism which was developed for 2014-2018 consists […]
Eight teacher education students from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia were at Helpage Belize today mingling with our golden citizens, some from the nearby Sister Cecilia Home and some brought in for the occasion. It’s part of a program designed to throw the students headfirst into different cultures and experiences, with the expectation that it […]
The transportation industry in Belize is in terrible shape, and that’s putting it kindly. Terminals are deteriorating and so are the buses. Schedules are iffy at best and there are just too many commuters for the buses on the roadways, which leads to serious and even dangerous overcrowding. These conditions aren’t new, and over the […]
But is it a situation where the Department is just overwhelmed? Is the lack of supervision, oversight and regulation the cause of the transportation woes? It’s likely, but Galvez says that with so many factors in play, they plan to look first and foremost at the road service permits held by bus operators, and then […]
In any response to an emergency, the National Transport and Evacuation Committee will play a very critical role. It is one of thirteen national committees, and is comprised of representatives from various agencies including the Police, municipalities, Ministry of Works and the Coast Guard. On Wednesday, as CEMO opened the Hurricane Season, National Liaison Officer […]
On Tuesday night, the Belize Tourism Industry Association, in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board and McNab Publishing unveiled the new theme for the 2016/2017 Destination Belize Magazine. “Travel Curious: This Journey Will Change You,” is expected to capture the unique cuisine, locations and cultural experiences of the country. The B.T.I.A. has been working on […]
The B.T.B. is forecasting that it will be reaching the million mark number of cruise tourism visitors to the jewel this year. It has already contracted the Brighter Group firm of the UK to promote Belize in Europe and specifically in the UK. In the first quarter of this year, January to March, overnight visitors […]
This year and for the first time, Belize gets to host the CODICAR games which are regional games that foster the integration movement in Central America. Belizean athletes have traditionally competed in the games and done well, this time they get to stay home and face the competition from the Central American region. They will […]
The idea of introducing cruise tourism to southern Belize was initially met with objection from various communities, primarily from residents of Placencia, as it relates to the Harvest Caye development. Since then there has been a shift in attitude towards the project. More people, including small business owners, tour guides and artisans are embracing the […]
Was a Belizean businessman and former Minister really targeted by a drug cartel as he vacationed in Chetumal at the Fiesta Inn a week ago? He claims he was, and went to one media house to give an extended interview on his allegedly nightmarish ordeal. The well-known Belizean outlined a scenario in which he and […]
On Wednesday evening, there was a meeting between executives of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and various stakeholders of the cruise tourism industry in Belize, at the Old Belize Center. A spokesperson for the Belize Tourism Board told us that it was closed to the press – an insiders’ only event to discuss best […]
The exodus from mainland to the cayes began earlier today, with dozens of private vessels heading out to San Pedro, Caye Caulker and other secluded locations. While Belizeans take to water this Easter weekend, it is important to remember the primary rules of boating safety. Commander John Borland of the Belize National Coast Guard outlines […]
More than seventy Belizeans are in Barbados studying at the UWI Cave Hill Campus. They are among thousands from the rest of the Caribbean and other countries. Now, student life can be tough and adapting to a new environment can be challenging. But for many, it is a way to a means and building camaraderie […]
This morning in Barbados, a two-day media law workshop got underway. The seminar brought together sixty-eight representatives of media houses and civil societies from thirteen countries across the region. The seminar was organized as a part of the “Improved access to Justice in the Caribbean” known as the IMPACT Justice project. Funded by the Canadian […]
One emerging concern expressed by media professionals at today’s seminar was the need to examine and define the role of the citizen journalist who are persons, who report, analyze and impart information but are not trained journalists. The main concern expressed is the accountability and credibility of the recent trend of social media news. Our […]
Tonight, we air the third segment of our original show, Great Belize Cooking, with Chef Sean Kuylen. In this episode Sean takes us south to Dangriga, one of his favourite spots where food is ethnic, enjoyable and authentic. He pairs up with Dangriga resident Cyril Sabal who will walk us through the history and making […]
A second person has succumbed three weeks after an accident on the George Price Highway which took the life of forty-two year old Egbert Ferguson on February second. Ferguson died during surgery at the K.H.M.H. within hours of the road traffic accident. Earlier today police confirmed that French national Emilie Siman passed away on Sunday. […]
The Belize Tourism Board reported last week that tourism numbers for 2015 were impressive with growth in airport arrivals. These numbers are expected to grow even further this year. This morning, Minister Heredia disclosed that the seventeen-million-dollar municipal airstrip project is about to conclude. The expansion includes the modernization of the Belize City airstrip to […]
While crime has been tainting Belize as a tourist destination, 2015 was a stellar year for tourism in Belize, as the number of visitors in both the cruise and overnight sectors continued to grow considerably. Notwithstanding shaky first and second quarter figures, the better part of last year saw steady increases in overnight arrivals. December […]
Belize’s tourism industry is being tainted with the recent murder of U.S. visitor Anne Swaney, which is still under investigation. But according to the Belize Tourism Board, the industry made great strides in 2015, improving visitor arrivals by six point two percent over 2014. The B.T.B. reports seven consecutive months of arrival increases, with September, […]
As it relates to arrivals from across the Mexican border, the numbers are not on our side. The Mexican ambassador says he wants to close the gap by encouraging Mexican nationals to visit Belize. Though a figure is not available, Belizeans are known to flock across the border in droves and the Ambassador wants to […]
