For Immediate Release

BTIA LAUNCHES 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
December 7, 2009…. At its recent annual general meeting, BTIA launched its 25th anniversary celebrations. As the largest umbrella tourism private sector organization representing just over 600 members, BTIA will mark its milestone 25th year of operations in 2010.

The organization first opened its doors on April 26th, 1985 and has since then been serving as the primary private sector voice for tourism in Belize. Among its many achievements are its representation of over 600 private sector tourism and business operators, ownership of its secretariat building, the launch and successful seventeen (17) years of publishing the only national tourism travel magazine and its sixth installment of Belize’s only national travel trade show (BETEX – Belize Travel Expo) held every two years.

At its recent AGM on December 2nd 2009, BTIA received the financial support of BZ$50,000 from the Belize Tourism Board for the 2010 BETEX to be held from June 23 – 27, 2010. The first installment of BZ$5000 has been disbursed. BTB has supported the event financially as it is the only event that puts Belize on the international center stage in our own country. The show allows for all operators to receive a real opportunity to showcase their product and the country, offering that firsthand experience of the diverse destination we sell. While other international tradeshows allows Belize to compete alongside hundreds of worldwide destinations and only few Belizean operators can afford to attend, BETEX brings the singular focus on Belize within our own borders and allows for all operators to be exposed and participate in a well-organized international travel trade show. Idealabs Studios for the third show will be the official BETEX organizers.

The cover of the Destination Belize magazine for 2010 was as well unveiled and features the sea and inland adventure aspects of our destination. The photo displays a large male iguana attractively perched and sunning himself on the reef in front of the atoll -- Lighthouse Reef. The cover of our magazine seventeen years in publication has always showcased the diverse product of our tourism industry. The magazine is an in-room publication but is as well widely used by BTB, BTIA, Belize’s foreign services offices and many other tourism organizations to promote Belize as a tourism destination. Publishers of the magazine are Ulrich Communications and operate out of Miami Florida, USA.

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