Sunday is International Civil Aviation day and the idea is to promoting
the safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport. But for
some it just meant watching the British military pull off some neat stunts at
the Marion Jones Stadium. I visited for the show and the substance.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
Today, Belize commemorated International Civil Aviation Day and what a celebration
it was as there was a dramatic aerial display mounted by the search and rescue
wing of the British Army Training Support Unit. It demonstrated just one of
the opportunities available for skilled aviation personnel, the theme for this
year’s observance.
Jose Contreras, Director - Civil Aviation
“The objective of today is to commemorate International Civil Aviation
Day which was created to remember the creation of the International Civil Aviation
Organization in 1944. in 1994, 50 years of that organization was celebrated
and in 1996 the United Nations declared the 7th of December as International
Civil Aviation Day. Today we are celebrating on the 5th because it will fall
on the 7th which is a Sunday.”
On the ground, departments from the aviation industry exhibited their services
including representatives from both international and local airlines like Tropic
Air which will be celebrating its thirtieth anniversary next year.
Catherine Paz, Tropic Air
“We started really with a three seater airplane. Today we boast 8
Cessna Grand Caravans and we have three Caravans that come fully equipped now
with the new panels. We have one here on display and we also, Tropic Air has
been doing a lot not only in passenger service but Tropic Air plays a major
part in the infrastructure of Belize. We carry freight cargo throughout the
country. We have a wonderful mail service that people utilize. We’ve come
a real long way.”
Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia is optimistic about the future of aviation
in Belize. He told us that it will continue to improve with the introduction
of new international and local flights.
Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation
“The one thing that is almost sure to come in December this month
will be an additional flight by Taca which will be connecting all the South
American flights to Salvador and then to Belize that will overnight in Belize
and then I think at six o’clock in the morning it goes over there. That
will give us connection to all the South American flights and hopefully also
they are looking forward to a flight direct from New York to Belize City which
it should be either American Airlines, we are hoping that will happen this month
also.”
Catherine Paz,
“We’ve always been flying into Flores Guatemala. We offer two
scheduled flights, one in the morning and one in the afternoon and basically
those flights are to take passengers, visitors to Belize to visit the ruins
of Tikal in Flores. Tropic Air also does flights out of San Pedro. We do stops
in Sartenja, there is a runway there, and we do flights to Tower Hill, accessing
Lamanai, which is a popular tourist destination.”
Hon. Manuel Heredia,
“Maya is doing the Honduras flights regularly. I think a few months
ago we started again with the Flores Peten flight which was stopped for a few
months and according to my understanding, Maya Airlines in conjunction with
other partners are trying to set up an airline that will service Cancun Mexico,
Honduras, Guatemala and even local flights within Honduras.”
But a declining tourist arrivals at the Philip Goldson International Airport
continues to be a challenge to the industry. The Ministry of Tourism hopes a
specific plan of action will overcome what they believe to be only a short term
crisis.
Hon. Manuel Heredia,
“Overall the economy which is a worldwide thing that is happening
but I feel that in Belize we are always trying to catch up with things that
occur. In that case like in the Ministry of Tourism, which has to do also with
Civil Aviation, we are looking forward to new marketing, making use of our neighbours
which in the past I think we forgot Mexico and the other Central American countries
so we are moving into those markets to make sure that we are able to cope.”
According to recent statistics on tourist arrivals at the Philip Goldson
International Airport there was an increase in arrivals during the first three
months of 2008. Since then the numbers have fluctuated, and gone mostly downward,
spiking up only occasionally. In October the downturn reached an all time low
when only five thousand, three hundred and thirty eight arrivals were recorded.
According to a BTB spokesperson that it was the lowest number record
since 2002. In fact it showed a fifteen point nine percent drop from last October’s
arrivals at the PGIA. In November and December there is usually an increase
in arrivals at the PGIA but those numbers are not out yet and due to the economic
crisis in the United States it is expected that the decline will continue. North
Americans comprise the bulk of tourists who pass though the PGIA.
Email
Print