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Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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Even after increasing crime and poverty rates, many Belizeans still cling on to their jewel of the Caribbean. Well, according to CNN-GO, tourists that come to Belize feel otherwise. In fact, Belize came in 10th on their list of the world's 10 most hated countries. And why is the general consensus less than desirable? Well to quote the website, "Crime. Drugs Dilapidation... a vibe that screams avoid-being-out-after-dark-and-wait-for-your-real-itinerary-to-begin" has the tourists running for safer - and, according to the site, more enjoyable waters. With all this bad press some may be wondering, are tourists overlooking the value of Belize, or is it time to re-evaluate our country? Coming in as the worst rated country was Tijuana Mexico.

Channel 7

Comment... Boy are they stupid.....


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I always cringe when I'm in the States and the subject of Belize comes up and the following happens. More times than I care to admit I'll meet a person and the conversation gets to where I live a good part of every year. They'll look at me funny and say; oh I was there on a cruise, you really live there? Many have said that they would not return. Then I have to explain to them that Belize is not Belize City and there is much more to it than that.

On this very message board many times we have advised newbie's to get a cab when visiting BC on shopping trips. How many times have we given them our favorite cab driver's name and number? In my opinion bringing cruise ships into BC and dumping thousands of people into the city has not contributed to a favorable reputation of the country. It may be great for bring in some money but there are long term costs.

I'll leave it to others on what would be needed to remedy this impression that is given to visitors. It is a difficult problem.


Jim
Formerly from somewhere on a beach in Belize
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If you think the tourists have a bad time in BC, imagine the residents in the impoverished areas.
The civic improvement projects are good ones and certain areas do have some charm - unfortunately these nicer places are not where the foot-traffic from cruise ships is.

I'm not a newbie but I always take a cab when I am in BC shopping - I cannot figure out the one-way streets, the bridges ..... for the price of a cab per hour I get good company from my favorite driver, the ability to shop til I drop and toss the goodies in the cab while I execute my next bit of retail therapy, and I also get to feel a little pampered - the cab drivers I have worked with are usually full of information on history and culture too.

If a visitor to BC could just see St. John's, the House of Culture and the Museum - then have lunch at Riverside Tavern and a walk along the shoreline from Central Bank to the Radsison and the lighthouse - they would see something quite nice.

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Of course on the CNNGO list Sydney, Australia, was the #2 most hated city and Paris was #3. Los Angeles was #5.

Say what?!

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Marty Offline OP
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I love Belize City. Great food, good people, amazing history. Always have a good time there, ALWAYS.

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Ditto Marty, considering I'm the one who runs you around BC and I have a damn good time with you!


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I'm with Ragman on this one!

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I'm afraid this is the reputation fate of most cruise ship ports. It is not the best side of Belize.....However, compared to other ports across the Mexican Riviera and well beyond the Bahamian islands most cities simply don't show well. We have done a great deal of Cruise Traveling and we have simply learned not to look too deep at the immediate area when docking.....


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I have never been on a cruise and probably will never go on a cruise.............. Hang on, Kathy just called about a cruise........... well, perhaps.

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I as well have no desire to do a cruise ship. When I left the U.S 12 yrs ago and was at my doctors office getting my health record to bring down with me, well I was confronted in the parking lot by an old gal with more than a few missing teeth. She put her hands on me and kept rambling on about if you move to Belize you will die, they will kill you!!! Truth is most folks in Montana to this day dont even know where Belize is. Also the whole country of Belize has the same population of the city of Oakland California, that city triples the crime and murder of all of Belize daily. It seems very odd that Jamaica was not on the list as just a few days ago CNN did a story on it having the #1 ratio of murders per population in the world. What may be the problem is the cruise ships port of call. In most destinations as in cancun, Cozumel, Roatan, the tourist disembark in clean, tourist made areas..Belize City not the best day trip for a tourist. Still we all know this country is still called The Hidden Jewel..it truly is that. I am not sure I want that to change. Folks that cant see beyond Belize City, well mabe I dont want them to venture further. Those that come and explore know what a special place this is, those are the people I love to share the country with. During high season mid week those ships bring in over 7,000 people in a day, some of them have to stay in the city, so sad, to bad...but this country does have an Eco system that is fragile and being hurt a little bit everyday..


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Marty Offline OP
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Originally Posted by Katie Valk
Ditto Marty, considering I'm the one who runs you around BC and I have a damn good time with you!


AMEN KATIE!!!!

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Marty Offline OP
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Mayor Says Belize City Is Loveable, Not Most Hated

Last night we told you about the list that appeared on CNN-Go's website. IT placed Belize city at spot number ten on the list of most hated cities in the world. Well, to be fair that list included Los Angeles, Paris, France, and Sydney Australia.

But, no matter what, the Mayor of Belize city says he doesn't like it one bit and challenges the writer to actually visit Belize.

Darrell Bradley - Mayor, Belize City Council
"I think that these types of websites that do these articles are very unfair. Councilor Espejo brought to my attention the person who is the author of the site has never visited Belize, so how can you make an assessment as to the quality of life of a city if you haven't even gone there. I give no credit to that article. I can tell people that I lived in Belize City for all my life and ask somebody who lives in Belize City what their experience in Belize City has been."

"I have also been told by councilor Espejo who is a member of the BTB Board of Director that BTB will extend an invitation to this woman to come to Belize - to see what Belize is really like and to speak to residence of Belize City and to get an experience for herself so that she is then able to make an accurate report and she is able to say having had firsthand knowledge of what being in Belize City is like."

"I don't give any credit to anything like that if you have not come to our city."

No word yet on whether the writer has accepted the invitation.

Channel 7


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Marty Offline OP
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Belize earn high rank on Most Hated Cities in the world list

Karen Bodden

You may have heard of America's Most Wanted captures in Belize, but there is a report that Belize is one of the most hated cities. CNN Go has released a list of the top ten most hated cities in the world. Belize comes in at number ten, with an article captioned: "Hate Belize? No, no, no. I’d just prefer to be somewhere else". The article says that while the Jewel has been dubbed "Central America Lite," "the other Caribbean" and "the gateway to the world's second largest barrier reef", Belize City has a reputation as the sorriest port of call on either edge of the Caribbean. But that's only the start of the criticism. It goes on to say that; "Crime, drugs, dilapidation, welcoming committees of bored, desperate touts, a vibe that screams avoid being out after dark and wait for your real itinerary to begin; Belize City has it all." Belize's Director of tourism is quoted as saying that the city is "consistently rated as the worst destination" among cruise passengers. It ends with a final jab that; "something more than the city's famous swing bridge may need adjusting. Until then, it's full speed to the puddle jumpers and water taxis." The damning article was discussed at the P.U.P.'s Press conference this morning and Senator Karen Bodden, who was also an aspirant for mayor in the last election, had this to say.

Karen Bodden, P.U.P. Senator

"Take a close look at the new Belize-a country that was once characterized as being a haven of democracy, now bears the fifth deadliest country in the Americas and the sixth deadliest country in the world. A country that is now known as the murder capital of the region with sixty-seven murders being committed this year so far-and we still have six months to go. Thirty-five of those murders were committed in Belize City; that's for the period of January to June 2012. A country that hosts the city that is the tenth most hated tourist destination. A country where our national symbols seems to have been replaced by guns, gangs, crime and violence. The current state of affairs in Belize contravenes both the laws of God, which clearly states and I quote; "thou shall not kill," end of quote. As well as section 2(a) of the constitution of Belize which protects the right of every Belizean man woman and child to life, liberty, security of the person and the protection of the law. The constitution of Belize, although the supreme law of the land however, is not able to guarantee life or the protection of it in this new Belize."

The other countries the list are Cairo, Egypt at number nine, followed by New Delhi, India; Jakarta, Indonesia; Lima, Peru; Los Angeles, United States; Timbuktu, Mali; Paris, France; Sydney and Melbourne, Australia and at the top of the list, the number one most hated city is Tijuana in neighboring Mexico.

Channel 5


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Originally Posted by Ernie B
I have never been on a cruise and probably will never go on a cruise.............. Hang on, Kathy just called about a cruise........... well, perhaps.
Ernie you're so cute.....I'm sure there's a line of Ladies who would like to take you on a cruise.....I've heard rumors that some of them might even return with you.


My friends call me Judyann

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Whatever you and Ernie do, just don't venture out of tourist village when you dock! BTW: Wet Lizard carries the Green Fairy smile

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I aint scared.

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No Ernie you and I are not scared. The problem is the impression that people off their cruise ship get. This is what has to change. We take necessary precautions and we do OK. The incidence reports about tourist crime that I have read don't seem too bad.

It gets back to perception. How do you land thousands of people into a troubled city and make it feel great to them? How do you make a statement that the visitors leave with that is, I want to return? That is the problem.


Jim
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The people I know that have taken a cruise to BZ I can place into two categories. The group that stayed in BC and walked around there hated the place. The group that took buses to tube, the zoo, a ruin, etc absolutely love their time in BZ.

I lived in BC for a while and there are some rules. Stay away for George St, never cross the bridge at night, and do not leave anything in the yard that you want to keep. So basically same as anywhere else.

The person that wrote the article probably has never visited any of the locations they spoke of and only sat in an office and read some data.

BZ has always been on the chopping block with Cruise ships due to the port being inadequate. BZ fixed that but did so by giving two cruise lines sole access to the new port, Big lawsuit. The tourist that drowned while tubing because the operator sent them into a flooded cave, not smart. BZ does have some issues as does any other cruise port, BZ can clean up a bit as we all know.

As far as Marty being safe in BC while shoppping, that is because Katie is there to protect you. smile


John deVerteuil
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Judyann, could you please give me some names ?

SnoopysMom, I dont know nuthin 'bout Wet Lizards or Green Fairies and plan to keep it that way smile

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Ernie, I would rather not name names.....However, I recently remember a bit of tug-of-war over you at El Divino's Bar.

Last edited by Judyann H.; 06/14/12 03:26 PM.

My friends call me Judyann

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Shhhhhh ! Dont start something I cant finish smile

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were you hiding out in the smooch hut again?????


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