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Joined: Mar 2001
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This is another example the short term greed of many in Belize. Belize is unique in what is has to offer and should develop it's tourism industry around it's uniqueness understanding that many of the natural resources and assets that Belize has are very fragile and must be utilized in ways that will preserve them for the future. If many of these fragile assets were to be squandered, Belize would be left with little for it's people to prosper from in the long term.

I have talked with many tourists that were vacationing in Belize for a week or more, spending thousands of dollars staying in lodges, hiring tour guides and eating in restaurants only to have their vacation experiences diminished by going to Altun Ha only to find numerous buses with cruise people crawling over the ruins like ants, going to the river to cave tube only to be greeted by hoards of cruise people tubes bumping into one and other, etc.

Belize would be much better served by it's government and tourist board if they developed tourism with the primary goal of growing tourism in ways that would emphasize the long term viability of the industry and the preservation of natural resources realizing that there is a limit as to how many tourists Belize can handle without reaching the point of diminishing returns. The short term greed of getting masses of cruise passengers that spend 50 dollars that mainly goes to the cruise line and a few bus drivers to the detriment of the tourists wanting to come to Belize to vacation for a week or two is unfortunate. More is not always better.

Joined: Nov 2002
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Bywarren, as usual brilliant post.


Live and let live
Joined: Sep 2003
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Cruise ships are still one of the cheaper ways of traveling...
What about the tourists who really stay and spend their money here in Belize??
When they go for example on a trip on "a cruise ship day" they get overwhelmed by all those horrible groups of people, who leave trash in a short time, make allot of noise and they don't respect the nature at all.
They say that it's good for the economy, but it's ONLY for those who participate in it, for the ones who have only $$$ signs in their eyes, and for those who don't think further. Belize needs to keep her good reputation. This is such a beautiful country!
Hey but it's the BTB who says "Belize: Mother Nature's best kept secret", it's just that I think they have to keep it that way.
So Marty, it is bad news. Let's hope for the best.
frown

Joined: Mar 2001
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Another way to look at it is, one tourist staying in Belize for a week spending $1000 is equal to 20 cruise passengers spending $50. And, putting twenty times less strain on the environment with that $1000 going to support all the people who rent the rooms, clean the rooms, guide them, cook for them, etc, etc. not just the cruise line and a bus driver. Oh, and the politicians getting the kick backs.

Now if one accepts the premise that Belize and it's environment can handle a finite not an infinite number of tourists before the strain on the enviornment begin to cause lasting and, in some cases, irreversible damage, not to mention the damage to Belize's image as a pristine, eco-tourist destination, then the question of whether or not to promote mass tourism in the form of cruise passengers as opposed to attracting the tourist that comes and stays for a week or two should be a question easily answered if those given that responsibility answer it based on what is best for all of the Belizean people and not just what is best for a few in the short term.

PS: this should be a call to arms for all of you that have invested in tourism in Belize. It is your livelihood along with the future of Belize that is at stake.

Joined: May 2000
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Marty (or Katie) - do you have any email addresses for those with any clout? Said Musa, Mark Espat (minister of tourism), etc.

Joined: Nov 2002
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Mossback my trade license cost almost as much as Ramon's and the same as Bananas-the BTB campaigned against having a hostel or a Backpackers place on AC(or for that matter anywhere in Belize) and it is now called Pedro's Inn-is this what you call help

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Has anybody actually successfully fought off the onslaught of cruise ships? It seems like an impossible battle to win. The government makes heaps of fast easy money on dockage fees and whatever so they will be gung-ho behind it. The goverment easily convinces the business owners that cruise ships are the best thing since sliced bread by waving a few charts showing increased revenues around.

So the little guy is left to fight the politicians and the business owners. Good luck cause you are going to need. frown

Of course, you could always hope the Norwalk virus becomes epedemic...

Joined: Apr 2000
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There are many pros and cons on this potential avenue. The bottom line IS the bottom line. It's simply all about money.

Let me ask... how many people who go on a cruise to a destination, more often than not return to that destination via airlines and stay at some of the places they *briefly* visited on the cruise.

Granted the people of Belize that will make out, in the beginning, will be the people on the mainland. The ratio of visitors waiting around for a flight or boat to AC will be small. This is where the people of AC need to put on their thinking caps... and draw those people to the island. It CAN be done, but it doesn't JUST happen by itself.

Joined: Nov 2002
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Quote
Originally posted by Barbara K:
Marty (or Katie) - do you have any email addresses for those with any clout? Said Musa, Mark Espat (minister of tourism), etc.
Barb, an email doesn't work; politicians listen to money and votes. Get some organisations involved like Chaimber of Commerce (BZ/AC), BHA, BTIA, SPTGA and/or Green Reef.


Live and let live
Joined: Jan 2003
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I believe the cruise ship port would help Belize but i am not certain that B.C. is the best spot for it. Belize city is crowded and people come to belize to get away from it all. But having a cruise port would get tourists to belize that would not have come otherwise. And maybe they will return again.


Go Mizzou
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