Last night I had the distinct pleasure of attending a lecture by Mr. Joe Awe, President of the Cayo Tour Guide Association, Senior Guide at The Lodge at Chaa Creek, and lecturer at the local Junior College. The presentation was on Sustainable Development in Belize for a group of students from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.

The Eco Kids Camp 2011 was comprised of 24 children from all over Belize who received a chance to visit Chaa Creek for an entire week to learn about Belize’s Biodiversity, the Ancient Maya, Traditional Healing, Land Conservation, Solid Waste Management, Responsible Tourism, and Belize Wildlife.

DO NOT MONKEY AROUND – Be mindful of your actions and maintain appropriate behavior when you are the visitor. It is okay to have fun, but not at the expense of others.

“[Belize] recognizes that its competitive edge is its cultural and natural heritage…and has in the past 12 months, put into place a sustainable tourism development. That’s a pretty bold step you won’t see in many countries around the world.”

There’s little evidence to visitors that any part of Belize is under threat. The jungles are lush and verdant, alive with macaws, toucans, parrots and howler monkeys. The water is teeming with fish, turtles and sea mammals.

“In many respects,” says Christ, [Belize] stands as a model… It’s not a secret, but a lot of people haven’t yet discovered it.”

Originally slated for May 19 – 22, 2009, in Belmopan, the capital of Belize, the Third Annual World Conference for Responsible Tourism has been postponed till next fall, announced the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) this week.
What happens when a small, scarcely populated backwater of a country is suddenly deluged with a million foreign visitors a year? What’s the best way to address the host of changes and challenges that this brings? Tourism experts from around the world will attempt to …