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6.5 Million Dollar Boost for San Pedro

Sustainable Tourism Program Team Presents Waterfront Development Concept.

Belize City, Belize, November 26, 2009 - The idea of improving the San Pedro lagoon waterfront is not new, but following a presentation by the Hon. Manuel Heredia, Mayor Elsa Paz, CEO Mike Singh and the Sustainable Tourism Program team, San Pedranos now have a better idea of the dimensions and scope of the tourism investments proposed for the island.

On Wednesday 26th November, residents and business owners from San Pedro Town, including hoteliers, taxi drivers, water taxi representatives and tour guides, gathered at the Lion's Den for consultation on the proposed investments for Ambergris Caye. Over 6.5 million dollars will be invested in a modern Boardwalk stretching more than 2000 linear feet along the lagoon waterfront on the west side of town, in addition to a new Municipal Pier and Water Taxi Terminal. This investment will consolidate water travel to serve local and international traffic, provide new opportunities for leisure and commerce, build public-private partnerships for commercial and cultural growth, promote waterfront beautification, and further the overall enhancement of Ambergris Caye as a tourist destination, resulting in an increase in overnight tourist visitation.

Comments on the proposal were well received and participants in the consultation urged the people of San Pedro to "come forward and say what you have to say" in order to come up with a "peoples plan that will benefit everyone." The consultation was the first in a series to be conducted as part of the process to develop the required feasibility assessment, prior to the drafting and presentation of actual blue prints for the development.

Funding for the US$15million Sustainable Tourism Program is provided by the Government of Belize through an IDB loan, the Belize Tourism Board, and the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture. For more information about the program please contact the Project Co-ordinating Unit at info@sustainabletourismbz.org or visit the STP website www.sustainabletourismbz.org