One thing I have noted over the years has been the fact that there is a wide variety of people, from all walks of life that love Ambergris Caye. Although my first vacation choices do not include staying in hostels or all inclusive or adults only theme accommodations I know that we have visitors that have all requested these options. I was initially shocked but have now come to accept that we have guests that are truly happy to arrive on the island, be taken to their resort and then plunk themselves down by the pool for their entire stay and they don't even venture out for meals. Belize and her natural resources, diverse culture, compelling history complete with ruins and water and jungle adventures are definitely on many a traveler's bucket list - but all of our guests are all looking for a visit to Belize on their terms, with their comfort zone of life-style and budget in mind.

The Belize government and the Belize Tourism Board have been striving to engage the departments of health, environment, fire and accident prevention etc in order to make this destination a pleasant and safe experience. New developments are expected to follow guidelines and be capable of ensuring sufficient water systems and sewerage disposal etc.

I remember when there was a huge protest against the town center clock tower including the jumbotron scene. Anyone else remember that? The overwhelming majority of people in opposition were ex-pats saying that we shouldn't add this and destroy the natural beauty and become less desireable to visitors. But you know what? When I polled my friends, their kids, our mainstay work force and others from around the country they all thought it was great and the kids couldn't wait to see a jumbotron installed. For as many loudly vocal opponents that we protesting against the project, I met four times as many folks that were excited and pleased about the project - they just weren't amassing in great numbers to show their support.

I realize that many ex-pats come to our island seeking a simpler life dissimilar from where they hailed from. But our people, our businesses and our guests do crave more development, more progress and more amenities. We are having more and more children, we are living longer and the cost of living is on the rise. We must grow, build and improve and add more options to our fledgling tourism industry in order to keep up with the other destinations we are completing with so that we can get a market share that will ensure that our people can continue to thrive and progress in their careers and within the community.

Whether any of us like it or not we should embrace change and input our suggestions on how to steer progress but we should also consider other people's perspectives and needs - no only our own, when we take bold strides to protest change and development.

All of the franchise resorts avoided Belize in the past because it wasn't a viable financial market - and that has now changed. In the same way that the real estate franchises and cruise lines have infiltrated our country we are now seeing the chain hotels arrive. With this come some sweeping changes but also with this comes a new wave of tourists - the ones that want to experience adventurous destinations such as Belize but are perhaps a little wary. These guests feel more comfortable when they are in somewhat similar surroundings. They want to try the water but they want to start with dipping their toes in before taking the plunge.

You may not realize it but ask any Belizean what is one of the first things they couldn't wait to try the first time they went overseas? Certainly I know when I ask my friends the answers were Starbucks, McDonalds and Chic-fil-a. And they want to visit places that are very dissimilar from the natural beauty that we so love here in our own country. They want to see a big city, ride a subway train, or climb a tall mountain. And most of us will admit then when traveling abroad we will stop in to a business if we see a little Belize flag displayed. Why? Because we still seek the comfort of home away from home.

I have met many, many people whose first visit to Belize was via a cruise ship. They saw what they liked and decided to return because now Belize was a little less daunting to them. In the same manner we will see guests that start their visits by staying in a chain resort where the name and brand is familiar to them, and once they realize that Belize really is like the promise in the brochure they choose to return and sample a more Belizean experience staying in a Mom and Pop guest house and going out with fishermen and dive shops that they identified during their whirlwind cruise.

Belize still can offer people a full authentic, quiet life devoid of mass tourism - you only need to venture off the beaten path by a few miles to be transported into a whole different world. Even on Ambergris Caye there are areas that rarely see visitors. Granted, that is changing but if people have chosen to live on Ambergris Caye they have chosen to be here because it is a vibrant, successful and progressive destination full of natural beauty, wonderful people and so many options to choose from when it comes to jobs, careers, hotels, restaurants etc. If we do not continue to grow, evolve and adapt to meet our market expectations and population density then we will do the opposite.