New BTIA president aims to strengthen organization

Osmany Salas

Friday, December 5, 2014. AARON HUMES Reporting: With just 16% of hotels, 4% of restaurants and 11% of other key sectors as active members of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA), the spokespeople for the tourism industry are aiming to get their own house in order by improving membership and financial position.

That is the news coming out the annual general meeting of the organization held at the Radisson Hotel and Marina in Belize City, highlighted by the election of a new national president, Osmany Salas of the Orange Walk branch.

He told us that the BTIA will work on increasing membership, making them more active within the organization, and expanding its reach to destinations that do not have active chapters such as Belmopan and Belize City.

According to Salas, the BTIA must treat every corner of Belize as integral to the success of the overall tourism product of Belize.

The BTIA is also preparing for the second leg of the Sustainable Tourism Project which looks at emerging destinations in tourism such as Salas’ native Orange Walk.

For these destinations to become successful, Salas says, they will count on the cooperation with the Belize Tourism Board, Belize’s chief tourism marketer.

Today’s guest speaker was Director of Tourism Karen Bevans who pledged support and cooperation with the BTIA.

The rest of the executive is rounded out by new vice presidents Valerie Woods and Stewart Krohn; returning secretary Mike Green, treasurer Pedro Perez and Haylock as immediate past president, who retains a seat on the board.

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