BTB Delegates to Attend FCCA's 15^th Annual Cruise Conference & Trade Show

Delegates from the Belize Tourism Board will be attending the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Conference & Trade Show to be held in Trinidad at the Hyatt Regency Hotel between October 27^th - 31^st, 2008. Delegates attending this year will be Mr. Lloyd Enriquez, Registrar of Hotels and Mr. Michael Singh, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

FCCA is a trade organization composed of 14 member cruise lines operating more than 90 vessels in waters off Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico. Created in 1972, the FCCA's mandate is to provide a forum for discussion on legislation, tourism development, port safety, security, and other cruise industry issues. FCCA works with governments, ports, and various private-sector representatives to:

• maximize cruise passenger, cruise-lines and cruise-line employee spending;
• enhance the destination experience and;
• increase the volume of cruise passengers returning as long-stay/overnight visitors.

Informal one-on-one meetings have been scheduled for Mr. Enriquez to meet with cruise executives from cruise lines such as Carnival, Princess and Norwegian cruises to discuss the enhancement of the cruise passenger experience in Belize as well as to exchange information and ideas on advancing the cruise market in this destination.

The Registrar of Hotels will also be attending a Workshop entitled "Care Awareness: Training for Port Agents, Shore Excursion Operators, & Ground Service Representatives" which was developed by The Family Association in conjunction with Carnival, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises; Aviem International Inc. and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association(FCCA).

The Care Awareness Program will provide those attending with additional training and skills to provide more effective and empathetic support for cruise ship passengers and crew in the event of trauma due to illness, injury or death as a result of shore excursion accidents. Other discussions will focus on coping mechanisms for immediate port dis-embarkment of crew and passengers.

This workshop will no doubt lead to fruitful exchange between Belize and other cruise-friendly countries in the hope of improving the overall safety of the cruise traveler's experience.