7 News Belize

Westjet Comes From Canada
posted (October 31, 2016)
On Saturday, Belize received its first direct flight from Canada. Before this weekend, Canadian tourists had to endure long layovers in American cities before coming to Belize, but now they have a non-stop connection. Philip Goldson International will now welcome 2 weekly flights directly from the Toronto'S Pearson International Airport. Minister of Tourism, Manuel Heredia, came on the first flight and he discussed the impact this new connection will have on the tourism industry..

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. - Minister of Tourism
"So this one is a milestone for Belize. I think it is something great, from a new country. As you know the USA has been our greatest, greatest market. Today, with Canada, I believe it will even improve the already substantial increase in percentage of tourists arriving to our country, but it is a team work. Everybody coming together and doing what we really need to do to be able to convince the people that Belize is a paradise, Belize is a place where anybody is welcome, particularly the hospitality of our people. Aside from that, the abundance of products that we have to offer, makes Belize so unique, makes airlines so as soon as the executives are here, they are enchanted. They are overwhelmed with what we have, and WestJet was no exception. When the executives arrived, we toured them around and they fell in love with Belize and that is what makes the difference. Today we witnessed the arrivals, full capacity plane, completely full, and I am hoping that the return will be likewise. And I am hoping that the twice a week, for a few months, and eventually I Belize that it will be a daily flight as we enter the Canadian market."

Minister Heredia also told us about the plans to market Belize as a major tourist destination in other parts of the world, and connect with other airlines.

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr. - Minister of Tourism
"I say it every time that I speak, every time that I give an interview, that it's all a team work. It is not the Minister, it is not government in itself, it is not BTB, it is the private sector, the concessions company, everybody coming together. This is for all Belizeans you know. It is not for the Minster or the BTB, it is for all Belizeans and if we love our country, then why not work together to accomplish what we have done. This is the third hire within months only that we have seen COPA, SouthWest, and we are looking forward into negotiations with Air Canada and British Airways to see how we can get some of those Europeans airlines over here. We are already marketing big in Europe, so we have to make sure that we have the connectivity to be able to bring these tourists to our beautiful country."

WestJet is the third new airline to introduce direct flights to Belize in the last year, and as you heard, this number is expected to increase.

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