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!

Carnival Fever sweeps Belize

Carnival Fever in Belize

With just days to go before the official start of carnival in Belize on Saturday, September 11th, a festive Carnival Fever is in the air. The annual carnival takes place in Belize and commemorates the Battle of St. George's Caye and the English Baymen settling the land in Belize. Carnival has since evolved into a large-scale celebration of indulgences to include music, food, alcohol and flesh and is most certainly a spectacle of fun, color, music and excitement that everyone should experience at least once in their lives.

All the carnival revelers and carnival groups with their dancers in festive Caribbean costumes are perfecting their moves to the beat of rhythmic Caribbean music. For months most groups have been preparing colorful festive costumes and floats and most recently building themselves into a carnival frenzy with mas camps that are performed not only for judging but the get the groups into a pre-carnival celebratory spirit. The carnival and pre-carnival celebrations in Belize normally draws crowds of locals and tourists of all ages and walks of life to the streets to listen to the festive beats and to look at the carnival dancers move their bodies on pure Belizean energy.

History of Carnival Groups in Belize
The birth of the Carnival Groups in Belize came to be when five thoughtful women in 1975 got together on a Sunday afternoon as they normally would. Ms. Crystal, Ms. June, Ms. Alice, Ms. Maude and Ms. Myrtle.
Later knows as the Belize Women for Cultural Preservation, the five mothers from Sixth Street in the King's Park area of Belize City never realized that this particular afternoon would however change the carnival in Belize as their discussions turned to a topic of discussion on how to spice up the Tenth of September Celebrations. After their discussions that afternoon they left with the excitement of an idea that was still turning around in their minds. None of them ever envisioned that the acronym formed from their names, C-JAMM, would one day be a household September word in Belize. They then explained and convinced their children with the idea and they in turn brought neighborhood friends. That September the costumed group danced through the main streets of Belize City. The concept created such an impression that for the next 25 years, the "Sixth Street Masqueraders", as they were dubbed, saw more neighborhoods forming bands, creating costumes and floats to join in the Carnival parade.

On carnival day eager spectators stop and peer down the street, looking for any sign that the carnival parade is about to begin which is usually led by the Police vehicle. As soon as everyone sees the police vehicle the news that its about to come is shared with excitement as it  ripples down the line or spectators. At this time the thought in the back of everyone's mind, are the words: "Let the partying begin!"

Anyone lucky enough to visit Belize at Carnival time can expect to enjoy the greatest party of their life.

Here are a few photos from the Mas Camp Pre-Carnival Festivities:

Excellent Mixed-Use Property in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize

This Mixed use Residential/Commercial property is located in the heart of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize. San Pedro, Ambergris Caye is well known in the travel community as a hotspot for tourism in Belize.
The Upper level is a Residential Home and tropical getaway boasting 3 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms with external wash room measuring approximately 2,852 Square foot of air-conditioned living space.
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For a Private viewing of this excellent opportunity give us a call at 501-664-1630 or email us at info@platinumrealestate.biz

For a Private viewing of this excellent opportunity give us a call at 501-664-1630

or email us at info@platinumrealestate.biz

18 Acres of Serenity Off the Coast of Belize City

18 Acres of Serenity Off the Coast of Belize City in the Caribbean

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Vote for Belize, Vote for Daniela Wolley for "Ms. Teenager 2009"

"Ms. Teenager 2009"

Belize has a representative at the Miss Teenager Pageant that will take place on October 15, at San Salvador, El Salvador. We have a chance to vote for the Belize contestant Daniela Wolley on an online competition. Please click on the link below the photo to vote for Miss Belize Teenager 2009.

The contest –now in its second edition, 2009- will feature beautiful young ladies from all over the world who will arrive in El Salvador beginning October 9th. They will travel across the country as part of an agenda of activities organized by the local organization, government institutions and diplomatic groups from “El Pulgarcito de America” –America’s Tiny Country-, host country for the year 2009.

The event is being produced under the supervision of Mr. Tony Berganza, owner of the contest, and the direction of Yesenia Mena, from the advertising company Young and Rubicam.

The Final Gala will take place on Thursday, October 15th and will be taped and broadcasted by Channel 12, during a majestic event, with the direction of famous Venezuelan director Luis Anguizones, and the contestants will wear outfits by Salvadorean designer Carlos Herrera.

The successor of Peruvian Lorelei Cornejo –our 2008 winner-, will take the crown valued in USD $1000.00, a cash prize of $4000.00 and another $4000.00 in prizes from our sponsors.