By Belize Live News Staff: Belizean tour operators spent this week making their case directly to the people who decide where cruise passengers go.
Led by the Belize Tourism Board, the delegation attended the FCCA 32nd Annual Cruise Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they sat down one on one with cruise line executives.
The goal: land direct tour contracts for the upcoming cruise season.
For Belizean businesses, those contracts can make a big difference. Cruise visitors are a major source of income for tour guides, transport providers, restaurants and attractions, from cave tubing and zip lining to ancient Maya sites and the Belize Barrier Reef.
The conference, which drew more than 700 delegates, also gave Belize’s operators a chance to network with counterparts across the region and learn new ways to improve the visitor experience.
The trip comes at an important time. Belize’s tourism industry saw softer arrivals over the summer, and with the high season approaching, stakeholders are working to bring more visitors through the door.
The BTB says it will continue supporting tour operators as Belize works to stay competitive in the Caribbean cruise market.
