New BTB Director Unveils Plan for Game Change

The new Director of Tourism Seleni Matus was officially introduced to the media today. She takes over from Tracy Panton who held that post for ten years. Here’s what the Minister had to say about her as she unveiled a plan for game change.

Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism
“We are confident that the sustainable knowledge and experience that Ms. Matus brings to the table in sustainable tourism, facilitation of complex multiple stakeholder initiatives and community outreach coupled with Mr. Garbutt’s long involvement and leadership in the tourism industry will together help us to look beyond business as usual and to chart a clear path.”

Seleni Matus, Director of Tourism
“One of the key priorities is this concept of result oriented planning. We need to very quickly, within the next two to three months clearly define an action plan that will articulate what the key activities and the recalibrated tactics are that will take us to the next level and position Belize as a leader in destination stewardship and really help us to refresh the marketing and branding activities that we have going.
This will start by developing what I keep referring to as the game changing action plan with the input of stakeholders. It will be a short term plan with a very clear focus. We will be ruthless at keeping on track. We have for very long tried to be everything for everyone and that has not worked and so we definitely need to revisit what we do and how we do and ensure that we are really investing in those activities that have the highest return for our industry.”
Lindsey Garbutt, Chairman – BTB
“I am very comfortable that with this board united as we are that we will move tourism forward in the way that the new Director just explained. We are committed to taking a new approach to how we move forward our tourism agenda, an approach that will be grounded stronger ties with the entire tourism stakeholders throughout the country.”
And while the new Chairman is with the game change, Matus also spoke specifically about the Tourism Board changing its focus to internet marketing and focusing on the high end market.
Seleni Matus,
“From a marketing standpoint we know importantly from the marketing intelligence we have that travelers, there are very clear shifts in how they are selecting destinations and how they plan their travel. Most of this target audience is very focused on using the internet as an integral part of their daily life so it is really to shift our advertising to be more in line with what these individuals are doing on a daily basis to put Belize in front of them in their daily lives. So it is really moving, shifting from print media to focus more on social networking, also doing more online advertising, and so that is a drastic shift in how marketing is done for Belize.”
Jules Vasquez,
“Is there any way of making Belize a not so expensive destination? If you look at those we are competing with, I would say just in this region, Belize is a lot more expensive.”
Seleni Matus,
“It is and that has been a recurring issue and concern from many camps. However we have seen that if we are very smart in really zooming in on segments of the market that really have the disposable income to have this rich experience that you find here in Belize that we still are able to increase heads in beds and plan for that sustainable growth.”
The game change plan will be ready in three to four months and Matus will report to the media in another 12 months.

Source: 7NewsBelize

Sportfishing law to be amended

The enacted Sport Fishing Law has stirred quite a controversy in the past few weeks nationwide. From North to South, people have voiced their concerns about the Law. In San Pedro Town, the San Pedro Tour Guide Association has taken a stand, in conjunction with other related agencies countrywide, and circulated a petition which will be delivered to the Ministry of Fisheries. Signatures were requested up to March 10th and according to Billy Leslie, President, over 1,000 people placed their names on the dotted lines. Strong voices that are standing together for one purpose which will be made clear in a draft of suggested amendments which will be presented to Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI).

A press release issued by CZMAI has recognized the fact that amendments need to be made. A press release was issued on Thursday, March 11th stating the following: The Coastal Zone Management Authority wishes to inform the public about certain changes that will soon be made to the new Sport Fishing legislation, S.I 115 of 2009.
    The term ‘Sport Fishing’ will now be amended to define in more detail what sport fishing is and those groups that will be required to hold sport fishing licenses.
    A Sport Fishing license will now be needed by two main groups of fishermen. Visitors (non-Belizeans, non-permanent residents), and Sport fishermen (Belizean or otherwise) who are looking to target the main Sport Fish species as listed in the Fisheries legislation (S.I.114 of 2009).
    Exemptions are now being granted to all tour guides of Belize who possess a valid tour guide license upon application to the CZMA. Consideration is now being taken for full exemption for these tour guides.
    In an effort to stimulate the love of fishing in our young people children under the age of 16 and ease the burden on elderly persons over the age of 65, exemptions for these two groups of anglers will also now be granted.

    Exemptions will also now be granted to anglers who are simply fishing from a dock or pier as well as those who are fishing from the sea shore.
    Another amendment to S.I. 115 of 2009 will only require the angler that is fishing to hold a sport fishing license. Other passengers who are not fishing will not need a sport fishing license.
    The CZMAI remains committed to working closely with all stakeholders to allow for a smooth implementation of the new regulations.
    Any questions about these new changes can be forwarded to the CZMA offices on Princess Margaret Dr. in Belize City or telephones: 501-223-0719, 501-223-5739 or 501-223-2616.
San Pedro Sun

2010 Belize Census

Let’s do it again in 2010! That’s the theme for this year’s census which starts on the evening of May 12th. The national census has been held every ten years since 1960 but in fact, the history of the census exercises goes back to the first one in 1816. Since then they have been held with regularity and the data they gather provides a telling night into history and population tends. The exercise for 2010 is no different. It will enlist a staff of 750 interviewers to go into tens of thousands of households in every corner of Belize even if they have to get there on horseback. Glen Avilez is the Director of the Statistical Institute of Belize and is leading the exercise. We found out more form him and the relevant Minister at yesterday’s launch.


Hon. John Saldivar,

“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Statistical Institute of Belize, its Director and its staff, in the wonderful work they have been doing so far to bring back confidence in our statistics that are produced on most important matters in our country.”

Nigel Avilez, Director

“It will start on May 12th which has been designated as Census Day. That will start with a counting of the vagrants, those are the people on the street without homes. The following day the 13th we will have interviewers, close to 1,000 persons spread from the Rio Hondo to the Sarstoon, from the Western Border to the easternmost point of our country, all collecting information on persons living in Belize.”

Jules Vasquez,

“How many households will they interact with, we know they can’t interact with all, I think the last census says 320,000?”

Nigel Avilez,

“We are aiming to reach 80,000 households or 345,000 people across and this is Belizeans as well as non-Belizeans.”

Jules Vasquez,

“As a citizen, how can I cooperate or participate?”

Nigel Avilez,

“All we will ask is you invite the interviewers, you welcome them, you cooperate with them in responding to the questions. If there are any concerns all we ask is that you call any of our offices to clear up whatever might be of concern to you.”

Jules Vasquez,

“Will the census enumerators be properly identified, will they have an identification protocol they will have to go through?”

Nigel Avilez,

“Yes we will recruit people of reputable character, there is some minimum standard as far as education is concerned, and during the enumeration exercise they will wear what’s called the identification card of the SIB.”

Jules Vasquez,

“What information will come out of this census?”

Nigel Avilez,

“A lot in terms of socio-economic data. We are talking about education, health, economic activity. We want to measure the progress that this country has made since the last census in 2000. While we have been hearing that certain districts have made progress and others haven’t made as much, what is lacking is information at the very small area level, here I am referring to villages, communities, electoral divisions. Many times we are asked what is the situation in Hopkins, in Sartenja, and that information is not always available and it is best collected at census time and so we want to take full advantage of this opportunity that we have.”

The census exercise should run for eight to ten weeks and again it starts on May 12.

Source: 7NewsBelize