BTB meets with the Ambergris Caye Chamber of Commerce

The Director of Tourism, Mrs. Tracy Panton, BTB Chairman, Gaspar Guerrero, and the BTB Management Team met with the Ambergris Caye Chamber of Commerce on March 12th, 2009 at the Blue Water Grill Restaurant in San Pedro.

The meeting was held to share BTB's current marketing efforts and organizational structure; as well as funding and partnership with the Ambergris Caye community.

Several tourism issues were discussed during the meeting including the landmark "Catch and Release" legislation for bonefish, tarpon, and permit; the impact of the world economic downturn on Belize's tourism; the management of cruise visitors on the island and, measures to address the issue of the invasive "lionfish" that has been found in Belize's waters and has the potential to affect the local fish populations.

The Belize Tourism Board explained its role to the Ambergris Caye Chamber of Commerce, as a quasi-governmental organization whose purpose is to market and promote Belize as a premier vacation destination both locally and internationally. The organization’s funding is divided into a 50/30/20 ration, with 50% going to marketing and public relations, 30% to product development and 20% to administration.

The BTB team also took the opportunity to share with the group the recently approved four-year "Sustainable Tourism Development Project", funded by the Inter-American Development Bank. The project is aimed at developing Belize’s tourism industry in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, as well as building a marketing strategy to attract more visitors to Belize. The program which has an investment of US$13.3 million will invest in the restoration and improvement of facilities in four highly-sought tourism destinations: San Ignacio, San Pedro, Placencia, and Belize City.

BTB plans to continuously inform the stakeholders about the activities and responsibilities of the organization with regular outreach to the Ambergris Caye Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders countrywide.