Belize to host Third Annual World Conference for Responsible Tourism next month

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Quite rightly, the Caribbean region is realising that sustainable development (including tourism) is not just an abstract Utopian ideal about protecting Bambi, but has a direct impact on every territory's bottom line. Particularly in the current economic climate where Caribbean nations are in strong global competition for dwindling travel and tourism dollars, every additional effort to assuage travelers' concerns about the social and environmental impact of their travel and to ensure the territories' continued growth and prosperity matters.

One of the regional territories putting their money where their mouth is is Belize, promoted as "mother nature's best kept secret". The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is sponsoring the Third Annual World Conference for Responsible Tourism, scheduled for May 19-21. The conference is organised by the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) and will take place at the University of Belize in Belize's capital Belmopan. The programme for the conference will feature experts from around the world speaking on local economic development through tourism, the impact of mass tourism on local communities, and climate change.

During the conference, Belize also will launch its new policy on responsible tourism. "Continuing an open dialogue on key sustainable tourism issues, such as its effect on our local community and environment, is critical to the survival of not only Belize but the world as a whole," said Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia Jr. "The BTB is honored to take part in this effort, and committed to utilising the knowledge we have in dealing with some of the critical challenges that we face now, and will face in the future," commented Heredia.

Hosting the conference comes as part of the BTB's recently announced four-year plan to invest US$13.5 million in the promotion and practice of responsible tourism development in Belize.
The locally based arm of the ICRT is charged with the responsibility of organising this year's conference. The ICRT-Belize is part of the ICRT-United Kingdom, and is among the growing group of centres for responsible tourism in other parts of the word such as Gambia, India and South Africa.