The Independent Local Operators at the tourism village fear that they are being crowded out at the Belize Tourism Village. According to reports, Carnival has told the Fort Street Tourism Village Management that it doesn't want the independent operators approaching guests when they are coming off the tenders. Our reports say that the Independent Operators have been told basically that they'll have to make themselves scarce when the pre-booked Carnival passengers are coming off the tenders.
Director of Cruise and Regional Initiatives Valdemar Andrade told us today that, quote, "There is a need for some cleanup…there are some discussions in terms of positioning." But he added, quote, "we are clear that we want the independents to remain a part of the business."
And while that is the Tourism Board's policy position, on the ground, it's not quite that simple and the five or 6 inpdendent operators who are in the village say there are systematic maneuvers afoot by the Toursim Village Management to move them form the frontline. This, they says, is because their tours get better reviews than the Chukka Tours which are bought aboard the Carnival Cruise Line.
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