The 2014 high season for cruise ships is on the horizon and the Tourism Board is trying to regulate affairs outside the often-chaotic Fort Street Tourism Village. Now, we are sure you've heard this story before since the BTB has been trying to regulate this hot zone for at least 8 years. But, the hustle and flow of the tourism village's economy and ecology seems to confound and defy any system that tries to impose order.
So, this year's solution is to make the 60+ tour guides form their own union much like the taxi's - and much to the displeasure of four private master operators - who used to collect dues from the guides.
That's what came out of this afternoon's meeting at the House of Culture where the man who would be president of the new association endorsed the new system:
Efrain Cocom, President - General Tour Guide Assoc.
"What is the reality is that there is one taxi association and 4 operator companies that are running the entire business out there and everybody have to find work under these bodies - pay their dues and the job that comes out does not goes to everybody, it goes for a certain few that have connection the tendering service that goes directly to certain people outside. So the idea that BTB has is a very brilliant idea and I think it would work if its fine tune to the point where the association is form that was once before where there was an association rather than companies and then these group of guys can vote for their own executive, remove their own president if necessary and follow under their guide lines."
Michael Pollard, Tour Guide
"The meeting went sour because right now BTB have the 4 tour operators upset because they are telling them they have to go to #4 gate. They are putting them with the taxi man, but I still don't see why they are upset because they still have them in the zone with us. But what happen 
now is that they are not getting their money that they use to get from us. They use to get $20 a head from when you carry a tourist - you have to pay them $20 - now you have to give them $20 or US$5 from each head or plus you still have to give them a due at the end of the week. So we are trying to get rid of that and we don't have any benefit coming back to us. We want to form one union so we can put our money in and get back something out. Right now we are not getting anything back, we are just paying and BTB, I don't know what is going on with BTB. I don't know what side BTB is on. BTB is the man one that is flogging both sides, but they are flogging and not looking."
The BTB has had over 20 meetings with the guides over the past year to refine the management system in the zone. BTB says its primary focus has been on enabling the guides to make a living, while also focusing on the visitor experience.
The new Association will be allowed to solicit tours outside gates two and four of the Tourism Village - while the tour guide companies will continue to use the gate at terminal one.
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