|
Improving Small Business Competitiveness in the Tourism Industry
Background Information
- The $1.8 million dollar Project Agreement was signed on September 7, 2005 between
- the Belize Tourism Industry Association (Executing Agency)
- Belize Tourism Board (BTB)
- Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
- Other contributors in this 3-year project are:
- OCTA – Ocean Conservation Tourism Alliance
- CI – Conservation International
- NICH – National Institute of Culture and History
- Deanna Peyrefitte – Scarleth Ayon Neda (IDB & BTIA Project Manager)
Goal & Objective
Goal
- contribute to increase the competitiveness of the Medium and Small Entrepreneurs (MSEs) and Community Based Organization (CBOs) in the cruise ship tourism cluster in Belize.
Objective
- strengthen Medium and Small Entrepreneurs (MSEs) and Community Based Organization (CBOs) capabilities to provide sustainable tourism products and to participate in more integrated tourism business chains.
Summary of Activities to be completed in 2007
| * |
Local Market Research |
AND Consulting |
| * |
Development of Rapid Assessment Tool |
Konesens Corporation - USA |
| * |
Assessment of MSE’s |
AND Consulting |
| * |
Database Development |
Belicana Consulting |
| ** |
Cost Sharing Scheme |
Pablo Kunik - Argentina |
| *** |
Quality Control System |
|
| ** |
Training Curriculum |
Dr. Vincent Palacio |
| ** |
Procurement of Training Institutions &
training of MSE’s |
|
| *** |
Environmental awareness & sustainability training |
|
| * |
Integration Strategies |
Alex Boyd - USA |
| * |
Mapping of Supply Chain |
David N. Brown |
| ** |
Supply Chain Facilitation |
Melanie Smith Santiago |
| *** |
Training in Culture Awareness |
|
| *** |
Credit Advise |
|
| *** |
Communication Tools |
|
| *** |
Marketing in Project Regions |
|
| ** |
Brand logo development |
|
*Completed
**Ongoing
***Procurement pending
Eligibility Criteria of MSE’s - Who will be eligible?
Beneficiaries must meet the following criteria:
- Have 10 employees or less
- Business assets of less than BZ$60,000.
- Gross Annual Sales of not more than BZ$240,000.
- Be legitimately registered or in the process of becoming registered or possess a valid business or trade license or be part of a legitimately registered association or group
- be willing to cost-share for training and technical assistance
- Be willing to register and provide reasonable information requested for registration
- Be located in the pilot areas and be willing to travel to anchor sites
Target Regions
The project will focus on three regions for development, each consisting of a single or multiple anchor sites; supported by numerous MSE’s that can be bundled in various ways in routes and circuits of various lengths to meet market needs.
- Northern Belize
- Belize City and the Cayes
- Orange Walk and Corozal
- ANCHOR SITES: Belize City & Burrell Boom
- Southern Belize
- Stann Creek & Placencia
- Hopkins & Punta Gorda
- Neighbouring CBO’s
- ANCHOR SITES: Hopkins & Punta Gorda
- Western Belize
- Belmopan & San Ignacio
- Benque Viejo del Carmen
- Neighbouring CBO’s and villages
- ANCHOR SITES: Belmopan & San Ignacio
|
