The federation for cruise tourism of Belize is in a state of frustration, which motivated them to hold a press conference today on the current issues within the industry. The association claims that the tour guides are not getting any assistance from the BTB, NICH has doubled its entrance fees at archaeological sites, and Dark night is devaluing the cave tubing industry. Here are the highlights from today's conference.
David Alemendarez, President, FECTAB "It's the highest of the high season and we are approaching spring break which is supposed to be th Ernie when we are supposed to be happy making the most money and everybody supposed to be copacetic as they would say. Unfortunately that is not the case. Local tour operators myself included we are going through some very tough times we are going through some very hard times."
Artemio August, Tour guide "How come can a ship come in port and not a single Belizean operator not one single Belizean operator gets the opportunity to get business from that ship. Then we need to let that ship know if you are coming to Belize you must share your business with a local tour operator so that that local tour operator can then hire the hundreds of guides that are sitting down at this destinations. Some of them going home without making a single dollar for the day many days. What is the use that the government if going to come to the nation and say tourism is blooming in the country and thousands of dollars are making. Millions are making and the everyday grass roots local tour guide tour operator is going home with a hundred dollars maybe 150 and maybe none at all that's a shame."
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"It's the highest of the high season and we are approaching spring break which is supposed to be th Ernie when we are supposed to be happy making the most money and everybody supposed to be copacetic as they would say. Unfortunately that is not the case. Local tour operators myself included we are going through some very tough times we are going through some very hard times."
"How come can a ship come in port and not a single Belizean operator not one single Belizean operator gets the opportunity to get business from that ship. Then we need to let that ship know if you are coming to Belize you must share your business with a local tour operator so that that local tour operator can then hire the hundreds of guides that are sitting down at this destinations. Some of them going home without making a single dollar for the day many days. What is the use that the government if going to come to the nation and say tourism is blooming in the country and thousands of dollars are making. Millions are making and the everyday grass roots local tour guide tour operator is going home with a hundred dollars maybe 150 and maybe none at all that's a shame."