Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Enforcement of Tourism Operations within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve

The Belize Tourism Board, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and the Tourism Police Unit signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding to improve the tourism enforcement activities taking place at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR), one of the most visited natural attractions in Belize. This MOU formalizes an already effective working relationship between the three agencies, that has seen the execution of numerous enforcement and monitoring visits by the Belize Tourism Board and Tourism Police Unit within the HCMR and surrounding areas.

Assistant Superintendent Aliyson McLaughlin, Office-In-Charge of the Tourism Police Unit, expressed, “The Tourism Police Unit and the Belize Police Department continues to lend support to all stakeholders in an effort to promote, rebuild and preserve the tourism industry. We thank the BTB and Hol Chan Marine Reserve for engaging in this important initiative.”

Featured in the partnership agreement is a mechanism for technical, knowledge, and information exchange, intelligence meetings, strategic operations, and capacity development. Signing on behalf of the Belize Tourism Board was Mr. Evan Tillett, Director of Tourism; on behalf of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Mr. Ian Pou, Executive Chairman; and, on behalf of the Tourism Police Unit, Assistant Superintendent, Ms. Aliyson McLaughlin.

Mr. Ian Pou, Executive Chairman of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, expressed, “Hol Chan Marine Reserve remains committed to working hand in hand with stakeholders in the best interest of conservation and the tourism industry.”

Expressing the strategic importance of this agreement was Mr. Evan Tillett, Director of Tourism, who stated, “Enforcement is a critical component of being able to provide a world class product and quality experience to our guests. While the focus is not solely to regulate, but instead to support a process of continual improvement, partnerships such as these are paramount in our ability to provide a responsive and accountable enforcement system. We look forward to continue building our partnership with Hol Chan and the TPU to achieve this objective.”

Strengthening the Enforcement of Tourism Operations within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve

On Wednesday, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Belize Tourism Board, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and the Tourism Police Unit to strengthen enforcement of tourism operations within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The tri-partite agreement was officially made to build the capacity of each unit in its effective monitoring of activity in the marine protected area, which is one of the most visited natural attractions in the country. Today, News Five spoke with B.T.B.’s Director of Quality Management and Capacity Development, Abil Castaneda.

Abil Castaneda, Director of Cruise, Quality Management and Capacity Development, B.T.B.

“The M.O.U. is very well received by all because it is going to assist us in being able to put our resources together to ensure that the experience out in San Pedro and at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a safe one; two, that our service providers that being our tour guides our tour operators are maintaining their operations within the laws of Belize. And three – to see how the three organizations can work together to improve their own internal capacities. One element in the memorandum of understanding is providing support for capacity development of rangers and of the TPU officers and even the users there at the marine reserve.”

Signing the M.O.U. were Tourism Director Evan Tillett, Executive Chairman of the Hold Chan Marine Reserve, Ian Pou and Assistant Superintendent of Police Aliyson McLaughlin of the Tourism Police Unit.

Channel 5