ANYTHING is better than nothing, even if its done backwards according to North American standards.
On a lighter note: This just came in from the BTIA, thought it might interest you folks.
BTIA HOLDS CERTIFICATION LUNCHEON FOR TEN (10) ADVANCE MARINE TOUR GUIDES
The Majestic Room at the Princess Hotel & Casino was the venue for the certification and introduction of Belize's first ten (10) Advance Marine Tour Guides. The ten advance marine tour guides are Yovanny Leonardo of Punta Gorda, Shane Pech and Eloy Cuevas, Jr. of Monkey River Village, Elvis Solis of Placencia, Gilroy Robinson, Ian August, Giovanni Reyes, Dezerie Vernon, Aldo Perez, Alexander Edwards of Belize City.
Minister of Tourism, Investment and Culture, Hon. Mark Espat delivered the keynote address at this special occasion.
In addition to the ten tour guides, six Advance Marine Instructors will be certified as well. Another important part of this event was the official handing over of the newly developed "Advance Marine Tour Guide Training Program" from the Belize Tourism Industry Association to the Belize Tourism Training Unit (BTTU). On hand to accept the handing over was Director of Tourism Training, Dr. Vincent Palacio. This specialty course will compliment the diverse hospitality and tourism courses the Unit currently offers to the tourism industry.
In related news, the BTIA today presented a copy of the "Preparatory Course" for the National Tour Guide Training Program to the BTTU. The Preparatory Program was developed to help aspiring tour guides, who did not complete primary schools and those who left school over ten years or are not comfortable with the information at the level that it will be delivered, to make sure that they can cope with the rigor of the actual program when they enroll to take it.
For more information on the various courses and schedule of training, kindly contact the Belize Tourism Training Unit at telephone 227-1410 or email
[email protected].
CZMA/I & BTIA PARTNERS FOR JOINT TRAINING VENTURE
BTIA's Executive Director, Mr. Andrew Godoy, yesterday presented forty-three (43) tour guides with certificates of achievement after they particpated in a one-day environment awareness workshop organized by the Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (CZMA/I) with support from the BTIA. The workshop entitle, "Conservation of Goff's Caye & Reef Habitat (ConGREH) Workshop", was held at the CZMA/I Training Room located on Princess Margaret Drive. Funding was provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
The objective of the workshop was to increase the awareness of tour guides/tour operators using Goff's Caye about the ecology and the importance of conserving coral reef habitats. Participants covered information on Coral Reef Ecology, Reef Behavior/Etiquette, Utilizing Mooring Buoys and Proper Anchoring Techniques and Proper Use of Caye/Garbage Disposal. Instructor for the sessions was Ms. Luz Hunter.
WHALE SHARK PROPOSAL WITHDRAWN
BTIA members from southern Belize will be pleased to note that the proposal for the sale of the whale sharks to the Georgia Aquarium has been withdrawn. At a recent Board of Director's Meeting held in Belize City on January 22nd, 2004, the concerns of several members from Placencia were discussed at that meeting and the National Board is pleased that the proposals were withdrawn.
For more information on the proposal for the sale of the whale sharks to the Georgia Aquarium, contact Shalini Pech at Friends of Nature 523-3377.
PLACENCIA ANNOUNCES DATES FOR LOBSTER FEST 2004
Placencia BTIA would like to inform the general BTIA membership and industry stakeholders that Lobster Fest 2004 will be held from Friday, June 25 to Sunday, June 27, 2004. Additional information and updates about this spectacular event will be sent to you in the upcoming months.