I believe the new Tourist Village is scheduled to open November 3. Michael Feinstein, who among other things (and, boy, there are a lot of other things) owns Royal Mayan in Benque and Blackbird Caye, has the contract and the juice.
Good or bad? There are two perspectives: if you believe big boats vomiting day trippers, as in Coz or St. Thomas, is good for Belize, then it's good. But if you believe Belize is a different kind of tourist center, then it's not. Or maybe there's a middle ground -- as Belize City has such a reputation, whether totally deserved or not, as a crime-ridden hell-hole, then maybe even a political plum of a tourist center will have long-term positive impact.
--Lan Sluder
Belize First
http://www.belizefirst.com/