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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
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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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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,000
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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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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,267
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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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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,054
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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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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
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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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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,461
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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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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,206
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I'm with Ragman on this one!
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,465
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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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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,850
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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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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,436
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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..
LONELY PLANET SAYS TOURIST LOVE OUR ART. BEST PRICES ON ART.
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