Greetings From the Director Of Tourism

Refreshing June showers tempered the warmth of the tropical summer sun as we began the transition from the traditional "high" season to the "green" season of Belize's tourism. For many in the tourism industry this usually means the time for a much-needed vacation; the start of repair, building and maintenance projects not possible with guests around and intensification of marketing activities for the next high season.

The ongoing global economic slowdown has added several challenges to these otherwise normal activities with the overall decline in arrivals in recent months and its impact on everyone's cash flow. With the ongoing positive interest in the Belize tourism product throughout the world (there was a 7.67% increase in visitors to the travelbelize.org website April-June 2009 over the same period last year) Belize has a lot going in its favor and intensified marketing and sales conversion efforts are key to getting through these tough periods.  

Many private sector partners report that making the sale requires more effort on their part as potential visitors compare countless "Travel Deals" across multiple destinations and search out the most value for their vacation dollar. The partnership approach adopted by our Belize tourism industry can only be beneficial as we strengthen the relationships among ourselves, our trade and media partners and of course, potential visitors to Belize. Marketing activities on the part of the Belize Tourism Board have and will include:

• Full page ads in over 19 print publication throughout the United States and Canada
• Active engagement with the online market in promotion of Travel deals and exciting local events and opportunities through newsletters and social media channels
• Hosting a local marketing summit to assist local stakeholders in maximizing their efforts
• Destination marketing visits – beginning with Cayo – July 30 – August 1st
• Embarking upon a "Belize Specialist" program with Travel Agent magazine for over 4000 travel agents
• Arranging Sales blitzes in Central America, the USA and Canada
• Conducting random exit surveys to capture additional marketing insight

Concurrently, infrastructural development, training for industry stakeholders and measures to ensure the safety and security of visitors continue with:

• Taste of Belize 2009 – An All Day Event re-scheduled for August 29th –www.tasteofbelize.com
• The ongoing paving of the Placencia road
• Promotion of September celebrations activities –www.septembercelebrations.com

We look forward to your active participation in these and other events in the coming months and remind of the following:

• Make sure that localtourism@travelbelize.org  is enabled in your email software – we send you emails at least once on week!
• Share "What's New with You"  - for Media and Travel Trade partners
• Submit your Travel Deals to be listed on travelbelize.org
• Belizeemergency.net will be used for updates in "unplanned events" such as the Influenza A H1N1 virus; or any storms this hurricane season

Please feel free to provide feedback via our website, by email, telephone or a visit to our offices at #64 Regent St. in Belize City. We are here to provide support and assistance in ensuring that we have a viable tourism product.

With warm BTB regards,

Tracy Panton
Director of Tourism