Belize Tourism Board's 12th Annual Tourism Industry Presentation

Friday, June 10, 2011

Belize Tourism Board's 12th Annual Tourism Industry Presentation

Will Moreno
6/10/2011

Yesterday The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) held it's 12th Annual Industry Presentation at the Belize Biltmore Plaza in Belize City. In attendance was the Prime Minister of Belize - Hon. Dean Barrow; Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture - Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr.; CEO of Tourism - Lyndsay Garbutt and Director of Tourism - Seleni Matus along with distinguished and invited guests and members of the general public.

Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Rene Villanueva started off by inviting Mr. Costas Christ who is a tourism visionary to the podium. he reminded Belizeans, "If you know your history, you will know your destiny". He also talked about Belize being the leader and pioneer in the Tourism industry. Belize hosted the 1st Eco-Tourism Conference and 1st Congress on Tourism and the Environment. He also made note that Belize needs to keep with the practice of sustainable tourism and that Belize's tourism industry was going through a metamorphosis.

He was followed by the Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture - Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr.who was proud of the positive growth in the Belize tourism industry since 2010. The Minister then presented a check of $2,200,000. to the industry partners of Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), Belize Hotel Association (BHA) and Belize Trade and Investment Development Services (BELTRAIDE) which was the surplus in revenue that the industry generated and was being reinvested for further growth.

Director of Tourism - Seleni Matus addressed the attendees and shared some facts about the direction that the Belize Tourism Board has taken over the past year and new ventures for the year 2011. The Director of Tourism said that the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) was focusing on 3 important areas: Recalibration, Reorganization and Real Accountability. They are also changing the structure of their marketing program to focus on Travel Trade, Direct Online, Hospitality Information, Media Public Relations and others. BTB has enacted new and improved programs, Quality Assurance, Destination Planning, Information Systems, Revenue Collection to compliment their new direction.

Belize's Prime Minister - Hon. Dean Barrow then noted that Belize's Tourism is responsible for 1/4 of the the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which means many people in Belize are very dependent on the tourism industry. First Quarter Overnight visitors to Belize rose by 2123 visitors. He goes on to mention that the government is committed to the Belize tourism industry and the government will be restructuring the tourism police, improving safety and security of tourists and enacting a measure for all our visitors. The Prime Minister also mentioned that the government will commit to making Belize a World Class Destination by investing $12.1 Million Dollars on marketing Belize as a destination. He mentioned that Tourism is an industry that crosses government ministries and they will work with the private sector to accomplish this great task. There was mention of upcoming projects to aid tourism in key areas around Belize. The projects to be developed in Cayo is scheduled for July, Placencia is scheduled for September, Belize City and San Pedro are scheduled for October.

The Belize Tourism Board recently announced their partnership with Matador Travel, an independent media company who serves the global community sharing travel destinations. Matador Travel recently embedded a graduate of Matador U, Megan Wood, in Belize to blog about her experiences in Belize. BTB will also be linking with major companies like BVK an independent advertising agency in the USA with experience in marketing tourism. BVK's goal is to make Belize a Brand Name. JG Black Book of Travel will be Belize's new PR Agency and will assist the travel industry with marketing, promotion, and sales management services. JG Black Book of Travel's goal is to use their deep connection in the tourism industry and share their network with Belize to further make Belize a well known destination. Edelman will be another PR Firm that will be assisting the BTB with marketing. Edelman's goal is to inspire-educate and share Belize as a destination.

Belize Tourism Industry is the backbone of Belizean society and any shift means a change in Belize's economy. The changes that are being taken should be a boost to Belize's Tourism and a boost to visitors coming to this wonderful destination where the people, music, culture, food and everything in between its borders is definitely worth visiting.

Come to Belize and Be One With Belize!

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Facts to know about BELIZE

Belize

Have you ever wondered what paradise looks like? Do you like to look at breathtaking views? Have you ever wondered what it feels like to walk in the past? Do you want to experience Caribbean culture and cuisines at its very best? Are you looking for adventure? Are you looking for your getaway location? You can find all this and more in Belize with the help from Platinum International Real Estate and Investments.

Belize is a small, unspoiled country located in Central America and is fast becoming a world-renowned destination for tourists and international investors alike. It is the only English speaking Central American country due to the historical influences of the British Buccaneers and Colonialists that settled in the country for over a century. It is home to a multi-cultural society made up of Creole, Mestizo, East Indian, Chinese, Arabs, Garifuna, Maya, and Mennonites just to name a few. It is a country rich in Culture and rooted in beliefs of working together for a strong economy. The Belizean people are very friendly and a simple hello is given everywhere you go no matter who you are or what you do.

People that visit Belize keep coming back to immerse themselves in the rich cultural diversity and the well preserved forests and barrier reef that we call paradise. People enjoy soaking in the cool azure Caribbean waters; taking day trips to the fishing, diving or snorkeling preservation sites or taking a hike in the lush protected rain forests that keep the country so serene. The preservation of such beautiful places in Belize is essential for generations to enjoy it even after we move on and leave our legacy behind.
Platinum International Real Estate and Investments, vows to stand firm, work with everyone to bring Belize to a recognizable International Real Estate Level unsurpassed by most in the industry. We look forward to bringing you to a place you can call Home in Belize.

Life in Belize

For many years Belize has gone under the shadows of many other Central American countries. Belize has it unique features that famous celebrities have come to appreciate. You need to understand the geography, history, the people, the economy and the atmosphere to truly appreciate this inspiring place called Belize.

Geography

Belize is positioned in both the northern and western hemisphere. Located in North America on the northern edge of the Central America isthmus 16º 13' N, 88º 48' W - a somewhat narrow strip of land that connects North and South America - the country is bordered by Guatemala, Mexico, the Gulf of Honduras and the Caribbean Sea. Belize is the 23rd country on the list according to world atlas for the lowest density of people to land per square mile. With 240 miles of coastline, 8,805 square miles of land and 62 square miles of water rights it’s easy to see why people are flocking to Belize to call it home.

Belize's diverse landscapes include hundreds of islands, subtropical rainforests, fertile savannas and mountains. It is internationally recognized as a leader in environmental preservation and conservation.

Belize is divided into four main geographic regions, including the relatively low Maya Mountains of the south that dominate all but the narrow coastal plain; the northern lowlands and its many rivers and streams; the flat and swampy coastal plain, and the almost countless cayes, islands and lagoons that fringe its Caribbean coastline. More than 50% of Belize is covered by tropical rain forest that's dissected by a network of rivers, mostly small in length. The largest and most significant river is the navigable Belize River that stretches from the Guatemala border all the way to the Caribbean Sea. Second only in size to the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coastline of Australia, a 175 mile long barrier reef fronts the Belize coastline, intermixed with literally hundreds of islands and cayes. This great site has been recognized as a World Heritage Site, the other site is located 58 miles direct east of Belize City in the Carribean Sea, the Blue Hole; more than 1,000 feet across and some 400 feet deep, it's the opening to a former Ice Age cave, and is today one of the world's most popular dive sites. Belize is divided into six districts; including Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek and Toledo.

History

Archaeological evidence in Belize indicates that the famed Maya culture began to emerge in this lowland area of the Yucatan Peninsula around 1000 BC. That Maya civilization flourished here for eons; great cities were formed, massive ceremonial buildings, palaces, temples and personal dwellings were constructed, and the people farmed the land with great proficiency. Remnants of this extraordinary people and a quite sizeable population of direct descendants still exist in Belize and all across the Yucatan today, despite hundreds of years of European colonization of the area.

Spain aggressively controlled most of the colonies on the fringes of this New World, when the first English settlers arrived in the early 1600s. For the next two centuries military conflicts (mostly naval) between the British and Spanish raged, as both countries desired this land. Regional power struggles continued in the area over the next 50 years, and then in 1862, the Settlement of Belize was officially declared a British colony, and named British Honduras. Similar to all European colonies in the Americas, British Honduras also craved independence, but Guatemala continued to claim the entire area, and the British were reluctant to release their firm grip. By the 1960s the British began to soften their position, and though they still controlled the entire defense and foreign affair of the settlement, its name was changed to Belize in anticipation of the independence, which finally did come in 1981.

The People

Today you can see the remnants of the original settlers in Belize namely the Maya, British and European people. Today Belize offers a multi-cultural society made up of Creole, Mestizo, East Indian, Chinese, Arabs, Garifuna, Maya, and Mennonites just to name a few. Belize is a country rich in Culture and rooted in beliefs of working together for a strong economy. The Belizean people are known for their cultural tolerance, diversity and friendliness and it’s not uncommon to see the Belizean people smiling and waving at anyone passing by.

Spirituality in Belize life is diverse in a way that it will suit many nationalities. Majority of the citizens are Catholics while a fourth of the population are Protestant (Pentecostal, Anglican, Seventh - day Adventist, Mennonite, Methodist, and Jehovah’s Witnesses). Other religions present are Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam.

The Economy

Belize is a member of the British Commonwealth and is governed by parliamentary democracy. It then became an independent nation in 1981 and has a stable and progressive political history. Agriculture, manufacturing and tourism are key elements of its economy. Belize enjoys close ties with the U.S. and UK and steady economic growth.

The national currency of Belize is called Belizean Dollar (BZD) and is approximately worth a half of U.S. Dollar, depending on the inflation. It comes in denominations of 2 dollars, 5 dollars, 10 dollars, 20 dollars, 50 dollars, and 100 dollars. One Belizean dollar is a coins and a 25 cent coin is called a shilling.

Foreign investors enjoy a range of incentives in Belize, outlined in its Fiscal Incentives Act of 1990. Foreign-owned real estate privileges, offshore banking and a lack of capital gains tax attract international business to Belize. With Houston airport just over two hours flying time away and Miami airport an hour and a half, the country's proximity to the U.S. is another attractive feature for foreign investors.

The Atmosphere

The laid back atmosphere of Belize life actually comes from a unique blend of nationalities. Belize enjoys a nice tropical weather. It rains a lot during the months of May to November, while dry season is on February to May.

PLATINUM INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE AND INVESTMENTS would love to welcome you to share in our experiences. Selling real estate is what we do best and with our various departmentalized services we offer everyone looking to buy or sell real estate in Belize unmatched services amongst our competitors.

Please take the time to read, comment and share about your experiences.

Thank you,
Platinum International Real Estate
Management and Staff

Written by:
Will Moreno
Copyrighted 2009

Friday, June 10, 2011