Mayor Elsa Paz, along with members of the San Pedro Town Council, travelled to San Salvador, El Salvador where they attended a trade show/tourism fair from April 8 to 10. FERPROTUR (Feria de Proveedores de Turismo) is a trade show/fair that brings together several countries to promote their country, vacation destinations, restaurants, hotels and products.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye was invited to participate in the event by the Belizean Embassy in El Salvador. The Belize Tourism Board was also present at the event promoting our country of Belize. The Belizean contingency included – Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation – Hon. Manuel Heredia and wife, Mrs. Amy Leiva, Mayor Elsa Paz, Councilor Pablo Ico, Town Administrator Patricia Tillett and Mayor’s Assistant Mr. Felix Ayuso.
The trade show is ideal for participating countries as they make promotions of their products and services, promoting their top tourist destinations and activities, learn about marketing developments, participate in cooking demonstrations, contests, raffles and many other events.
At the Ambergris Caye booth, several local businesses were highlighted along with some very popular local products of the island. Local products on display were Elvi’s Kitchen – Elvi’s Pepper Sauce & Jalapeño Tartar Sauce, Kakaw Chocolate Company – products such as chocolate powder, several chocolates and wangla, The Rum House’s famous Panty Rippa (Drink mix of pineapple juice and coconut rum) as well as other rum and coffee products. Hotels and resorts from San Pedro included The Palms Condominiums, Grand Caribe Resort, Bananas Beach Resort and Ambergris Lake Villas.
During the three-day event many high end tourist of Central America and university students visited the Ambergris Caye Booth inquiring about our beautiful island and country of Belize. Making a personal visit to the booth was Minister of Tourism of San Salvador, Lic. Jose Napoleon Duarte Duran and Mayor of San Salvador, Mr. Norman Quijano. At the end of the three-day event the Ambergris Caye booth held a raffle and the lucky winner walked away with a three night stay at the Palms Condominiums.
“On behalf of the San Pedro contingency we would like to thank the Ambassador of Belize to El Salvador Mrs. Celi Paz Gonzalez for all her assistance and great hospitality” commented Mr. Felix Ayuso – Mayor’s Assistant. “Also to Richard Cordova, a recent SPHS graduate who is currently studying tourism in El Salvador for helping out in the Ambergris Caye booth.”
FERPROTUR – Feris de Proveedores de Turismo was held at the Centro de Ferias Convenciones at San Salvador, El Salvador. Participating countries included Mexico, Guatemala, Belize (and San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye), Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and The United States of America.
