Tourism Industry Moves Fast as Sargassum Washes In

Rather than sounding the alarm, tourism leaders are going straight to work. With sargassum once again washing up along Belize’s coastline, BTIA President Efren Perez says hoteliers and tour operators are sharing ground level feedback while sitting down with government partners to figure out what’s needed, and fast. The focus, he says, is on tightening clean up efforts and strengthening the country’s response, all with one clear goal in mind: keeping Belize’s tourism product strong, attractive, and ready for visitors despite the seasonal challenge.

 

Efren Perez, President, Belize Tourism Industry Association

“Sargassum, unfortunately continues to be one of those problems we are facing throughout the course of the year. it is not only a Belize issue. It is a regional issue. There are countries still battling the maintenance and trying to mitigate the impacts. In Belize I know there is concern currently, not only from the beach but also the impact it is having on hoteliers, cancel reservations and people not booking because there is the presumption that sargassum is around. I have been in communication with our key stakeholders, The Ministry of Tourism, The Ministry of Blu Economy, The Ministry of Environment to sit down and look at the efforts being done on the ground.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: