Belize Tourism Board’s Tourism Industry Conference 2017

The importance of sustainable tourism and a look into the future.

On Friday October 20, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) held its annual Tourism Industry Conference for local hoteliers and tour companies at The Ramada Belize City Princess Hotel. The event was an opportunity for stakeholders to learn about tourism related developments and trends affecting the country as well as providing an overview of BTB’s Marketing & Public Relations plan.

This year’s theme was based on “Sustainable Tourism and its Impact on the Belize Market” and counted on the presence of numerous international speakers. The morning session of the summit focused on Responsible Tourism and Best Practices: Its Value and Importance and discussed areas such as Safety & Security Requirements in the Tourism Industry (Dr. Peter Tarlow), Building a Better World Through Responsible Tourism (Trudi Pearce from Brighter Group), and Framework for Capacity Building (Amanda Charles from Caribbean Tourism Organization). The second half of the event demonstrated on Food Tourism & a Sense of Place in Belize (Erik Wolf), How Belize Can Adapt as an Emerging Culinary Destination (Alfredo Echevverría) and Creating a Sustainable Culinary Plan (Joxan Obando).

In addition, the conference included testimonials from tourism partners: Mrs. Lucy Fleming (The Lodge at Chaa Creek), Mr. Seleem Chan (Hamanasi Adventure Lodge & Diver Resort), and Mrs. Burga Pattinson (Gaia Riverlodge). The stakeholders highlighted how their companies have been able to achieve success by embracing sustainable and eco-friendly practices.

The yearly BTB Overview commenced with a video showcasing statistics, accomplishments, and projects made during 2016 followed by a discussion spearheaded by the Director of Tourism, Mrs. Karen Bevans. The Olson Group also exhibited its latest plans for marketing inland and coastal Belize in the North America region.

The Industry Conference was terminated by a Cocktail Hour which allowed the stakeholders to socialize and anticipate on the upcoming Belize National Tourism Industry Awards.

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