The Tourism Summit - February 22nd 2007, 8:00 a.m.

Belize Biltmore Plaza, Belize City

Objective:

To survey the tourism industry in Belize, mark its accomplishments, review its potentials and determine possible areas of concentration and concern for future development

Structure:

The Tourism Summit will survey for thematic areas within the larger tourism industry in four individual segments/sessions.  These include Competitiveness, Cruise Tourism, Tourism and the Environment and Airlifts and the Tourism Industry. 

The Summit opens with a general welcome address from the Belize Tourism Director and a situational analysis of our industry, presented by the Minister of Tourism.  A discussion segment will follow the Minister’s presentation.

Thereafter, each Segment will have three presenters:-  an international key/main presenter offering a main paper and position and two local respondents.  Presenters will be drawn from the international tourism arena and from among local tourism stakeholders.

Each key presenter will receive twenty (20) minutes to offer their paper, while each respondent will receive five (5) minutes to offer their presentation based on the main paper and their professional experience and expertise.

Each segments will be followed by a discussion fielding questions and comments from the floor.

A wrap up session will be moderated by the Tourism Summit Chairperson and will seek to summarize the high points of the day.