‘Tis indeed a small world. I went to get my hair “did” yesterday and normally I don’t talk but one of my challenges this year for myself is to engage in small talk and to just let people know I appreciate them. So, somehow we got to where I’m from and I said Belize and she goes “O my gosh! I’ve been there.” So I ventured to ask where hoping it was like San Pedro or Caye Caulker and then she said, struggling to appear neutral, “Belize City.” And I saw the look on her face and I burst out laughing. I said, ‘O I’m so sorry. Why did you go there? Nobody goes there for a vacation!” And she said that it was the cruise ship. They were dropped off and told to go explore Belize City. SERIOUSLY???? Whose stupid idea is this??? I mean, even we locals hate going to the city.
She said that she didn’t want to give me the wrong idea. She learned a lot and came to appreciate that she really does have life good and that she is very glad she lives where she lives. She and her family took a guided tour in the seedy and then more wealthy areas (turns out it was definitely Buttonwood Bay). She said she felt scared and knew that had it not been for her family she would not have even gotten into the cab. She said she definitely felt “eyed” and threatened. She liked the chicken with the “sauce” on the rice but was afraid to try it at first, then glad she had. I asked her if she got to go to the islands and she said that she knows that there are beautiful beaches and that people have destination weddings but she never even got close to a beach.
Here is the thing. I understand that the tourist village was built to drive $$$ into the city in an attempt to create jobs and a sustainable economy but did we shoot ourselves in the foot? By highlighting our crime ridden and bullet gutted city, we provide a very narrow and frightening view of our country to tourists. This creates a negative press we may not have anticipated. That girl and her family (6 of them) will never entertain coming back and you can damn be sure they are not going to send anyone else. Multiply that by a couple thousand every week or so??????
*sigh* Any ideas on how to do this differently?
Twocanview LLC 
My beautiful Songbird:
Like you I find myself in similar situations and once it was in the elevator in front of ‘the others’ in the height of the rush hour (yes elevators has their rush hour too). “You have a beautiful accent where are you from?” My heart would sink and I would start sweating. Thank God it’s a short ride to the bottom (45 floors). “Belize” and some would think I said “Brazil” most response would be “We had a lovely time there, diving, cave tubing, fishing, Shark Ray alley, the caves, the Maya ruins, Placencia and the Cayes.” “I spent time in Placencia – what wonderful people.” “I want to retire there.” “I would love to buy some land in Belize.” “My daughter got married there. They enjoyed the diving at the cayes.” “Such a beautiful place what are you doing here?” “This is extreme from Belize to Minnesota!” …And as you were saying, “the cruise ship stopped in the city and we only had a day to visit so we did not go to the islands.” I find myself emailing links to anything that will make Belize look good…usually, The Pelican, Blue Marlin Lodge, Mahogany Hall, Discovery Belize and Placencia of course! Attached are some links I’ve included which brings me to this point that they are misleading at times and could be a little more detailed – more information.
http://www.travelbelize.org/
http://www.discoverybelize.com/about-us.html
http://www.pelicanbeachbelize.com/
http://www.bluemarlinlodge.com/
http://www.mahoganyhallbelize.com/
…Happy Birthday Aaron Richard Donald Anderson!!♥♥
I have friends who say they are coming to Belize and I ask where are they going. Of course, they say they are on a cruise. I encourage them to get out of Belize City and do the cave tour or a ruin or snorkel but please don’t stay in the City. It makes me mad that the cruise ships encourage them to just visit Belize City and their little profit areas.
I feel torn about it..but we have to make sure our visitors are safe and getting what they are paying for…perhaps we could provide for shuttles straight to some other destination
Hahaha I love it.
Is that a great tourism strategy or what? Come visit us in Belize City and we guarantee you’ll leave with a whole different perspective on your own life and a whole new appreciation for what you have.
How sad is this? Damn!
there are a couple ways to look at it but as much as we must encourage learning in all its forms…a tourist isn’t looking for an in vivo lesson in social consciousness..we are selling a fantasy…they want to relax, luxuriate…feel pampered..we promise coconut trees and warm crystal clear blue seas…we promise a respite from reality and we do the dirty dirty and slap ’em upside di head wid the rawest reality there is…smh…I would feel weird too…I remember that feeling when I went to Cancun and saw the slums outside the strip….i was like craaaaaap…i cuda stayed home fer dis ish…