For Immediate Release

BTIA HIGHLIGHTS ADVOCACY FOR TOURISM
January 25, 2010…. BTIA in celebrating its 25th Anniversary will be centering its focus on a series of issues with the hopes to reinforce its message of celebrating diversity while advocating for responsible tourism development. The past year was by all means a challenging one for Belize’s economy. Tourism, Belize’s major service industry experienced declines in revenue collection from hotel taxes, decline in airport arrivals for international tourists and the operators and BTIA members in the sector reported several business challenges ranging from longer low season hotel closures, cutting and rearranging employee work hours and schedules so as not to lay off workers, ownership and management changes for hotels, reduced vibrancy in tours, reduce spending from tourists across the board in areas affecting arts and craft and restaurant services.

Having observed the early signs and hearing the call from membership, early in 2009 BTIA undertook a strategic planning exercise. This exercise took stock not only of the organization 25 years after but assessed its role in the development of tourism for Belize. It was clear that while the partnership with tourism public sector is important and needs reinforcement, BTIA had to remain a strong advocacy voice for the industry and the operators. The emerging focus for advocacy was rightfully then determined to be:
 Increased advocacy on safety and security in general – Crime has well established negative impact on the quality of life in general as well as economic processes and operations. Tourism is no exception. The negative effect of the sensational criminal activity on daily life and business operations prompts concern and requires the assistance of all. In conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, BTB and the public sector security agencies, BTIA kicked off a series of safety and security consultations in the tourism destinations across Belize in September of 2009 and intends to continue with the activity. The early successes of the closer collaboration and partnership with public sector security agencies have fostered improved dialogue and a direct line of assistance to the security agencies. The continued high profile criminal activity requires continued action and vigilance, stemming any possibility for negative international press and travel advisories.

 Increased advocacy on responsible tourism development – During 2009, BTIA formulated position papers in relation to tourism development in Southern Belize, objected to the large scale development in San Pedro and recommended to the Ministry of Tourism a Cabinet Paper for the expansion of the Returnable Containers Bill to include a national buy back campaign for all plastic containers and stringent measures to reduce the importation and use of Styrofoam containers. While we will continues in these efforts, this year 2010, BTIA will be working with our public sector partners and private sector operators for the proper consultation on the “discussed” cruise tourism expansion for Placencia and Southern Belize.
In addition and most critical, BTIA is preparing for active involvement in the consultations for the development of the Tourism Master Plan for Belize, included under the IADB Sustainable Tourism Development Project. Our Destination Chapters are being urged to pre-determine the respective destination’s master plan so that our input is well coordinated and documented and represents broad industry views.
 Increased advocacy as it relates to taxation, fiscal incentives and labor issues for tourism – BTIA commenced discussions with public sector tourism agencies in 2008 and 2009 for the reclassification of hotels under the General Sales Tax. In 2010, BTIA will advocate for the comprehensive evaluation of the tourism tax regime and its impact on sectoral development. The view is that with comprehensive assessment a more equitable tax regime can be proposed. As well, BTIA will continue its advocacy for the full utilization of collaboration between BTB and BELTRAIDE to establish an applicable fiscal incentive program for tourism.
In consideration of recent developments for the labor laws in relation to the severance pay legislative amendments, BTIA joins the Belize Chamber of Commerce in its efforts in this specific regard. BTIA as well calls on the Ministry of Labor to conduct a comprehensive assessment of labor laws in Belize. Any recommendation for change should not be implemented in isolation but with a full review of other areas of the legislations and for its full impact on the cost of doing business in tourism and Belize in general.
The above are some of the major issues which BTIA will be actively advocating on, conducting assessment and making industry recommendations to the government via the Ministry of Tourism and the BTB. As the umbrella private sector organization for tourism in Belize, we call on all our national tourism industry private sector agencies for their continued collaboration. Only in unity and partnership can we achieve the public sector attention and establish an enabling environment conducive to continued recovery after a recession and sector growth.
We urge our public sector partners not to view partnership as censorship or advocacy as being adversarial but a constructive process that if approached maturely, with level heads and the true commitment to collaboration can yield maximum benefits for tourism and Belize.

ENDS