There are MAJOR problems with the BTB's network of sites, they are doing an "upgrade" that may kill 15 years of hard work for search engine placement, and many many Belizean websites.

I fear they are incompetent, and do not know what they destroy.

Here is just a small list of problems one can check yourself:

1. All major Belize websites are no longer functioning. Go to anyone and see. This includes:

http://www.toucantrail.com
http://www.toucantrailbelize.com
http://www.belizemediacenter.org
http://www.belizetraveltrade.org
http://www.belizetourism.org
http://www.tasteofbelize.com
http://www.belizeemergency.net
http://www.septembercelebrations.com
http://www.belizemaya2012.com

2. The main BTB website, Travelbelize.org is severly degraded - check out the marina in the Cockscomb (http://travelbelize.org/attractions/rainforest-inland/cockscomb-basin-wildlife-sanctuary-2.html) and pictures of our wonderful barrier reef.

3. Toucan Trail use to have top ranking in Google for "budget hotels in Belize". Check for it now. There are over 100 properties that only presence online is the Toucan Trail, and the BTB is ignoring the fact that their web presence is gone. Do a search on "Ruthies cabanas Dangriga" and see what happens.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. For the life of me, I can't understand how no one has seen this, it has been a full week since it happened and the BTB sends out a message about how excited they are about upgrading their web presence. They may be upgrading it, but they are letting 15 years of search engine placement go in a week. They are letting a network that has been built on lots and lots of money and time invested, go to waste, but no one else seems to understand what they are destroying. There is no way any one competent would allow sites to go dark while upgrading.

Marty

Fear not Marty, as I have it from reliable sources that the whole "internet thing" is but a passing fad. And who really uses Google anyways???

yeah, no one really uses google :>

It is unfortunate and will affect all of us. There are mostly PR people in the BTB now, and they are relying on a US PR firm, and their director of marketing is from that US PR firm believe it or not.

travelbelize.org has slowed to a crawl.

and slowness is only one of their problems:

1. Check out the beautiful coral reef images - http://travelbelize.org/attractions/attractions/island-marine.html
2. Check out the marina in the Cockscomb Basin - http://travelbelize.org/attractions/rainforest-inland/cockscomb-basin-wildlife-sanctuary-2.html
3. Entertainment? - http://travelbelize.org/activities/entertainment/entertainment.html
4. Accommodations Directory? - http://travelbelize.org/accommodations/accommodations/accommodations.html

THE ENTIRE ACCOMODATIONS AREA IS KAPUT????????

what? I use Google. Don't you wish everybody did?

just being satirical on the "no one uses google" comment....

HOLY F#@!

Check out the beautiful beach pictured at:
http://travelbelize.org/activities/activities/reef-beach.html nice crumbling cement seawall.

And WHO is writing this??? "Chinese restaurants are the most prevalent in the country but that is not your only option." WHAT THE????

You are 110% correct Marty that this IS criminal.

This would be laughable if it wasn't so sad. Lilly pads at South Water Caye?

http://travelbelize.org/attractions/island-marine/south-water-caye-marine-reserve-2.html

Riverine forest and snail kite at Laughingbird Caye?

http://travelbelize.org/attractions/island-marine/laughing-bird-caye-national-park-2.html

Who is the online marketing partner for BTB?

Where is the RFP (Request For Proposal)? What was the process to choose one? I would have been interested in bidding.

Regardless, why would they allow the network to go dark?

Maybe they will make a great new website, but there is no reason to let the network go dark.

And the biggest question, is why is there no outcry from the industry?

I'm sure they'll be an outcry now... I for one just sent a note to BVK (http://bvk.com) who do all the PR for BTB/BZE...

I mean ALL the pics on the BTB's site look like they're FPO as someone re-codes the thing. If it were a joke it'd be funny. The fact that it's not (a joke) is tragic.

So in the history of ALL the "Scuba" related photos that have been taken in Belize, the BTB REALLY feels that the two pictured here BEST capture what diving in Belize is all about???

http://travelbelize.org/activities/reef-beach/scuba-diving-2.html

WTF?????!!!!!