With respect to a "severance" pay from the tourism industry that I've been hearing about over and over, I finally found out that it is not being embraced by the BTIA or any other of the private sector tourism associations for 2009, and when they are asking the GOB to re-visit in 2010. Basically, their position is for there to be an across-the-board freeze on all new taxes or fees imposed on the industry in any way in 2009.

Any new taxes or fees to the tourism industry right now could be fatal...hopefully, the GOB will not be hoisted by their own petard. Any fees or taxes (including the "fishing license") will burden an already overburdened industry, which happens to be the industry that keeps Belize running.

The bailouts and stimulus packages will dry up, tourisms stakeholders will bail, and we all know what that will mean to the people of Belize.

Unfortunately it is already happening.
http://www.whitesandscove.com/

What the island needs is a 7,000 room mega-resort to more fully dilute the tourists that are still arriving.

The news about White Sands Cove is disturbing ... but someone far more knowledgeable than I says it is more a disagreement between condo owners and management than it is about the economy.

--Lan Sluder