The MTBCAAS Project reached another milestone in achieving its objectives and results of the Project. A contract, in the amount of $344,072 (Three hundred forty four thousand and seventy two dollars), was awarded to the consulting firm BELZEB CONSULTING of Grenada, West Indies via tendering process to provide consultancy for diversification of community based tourism products and services to National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) and Belize Tourism Board (BTB).
The contract involves the development and delivery of a training program in standardization, branding and certification for Belizean made arts and crafts products being sold at archaeological sites and elsewhere. The consultancy will also advise on how best to utilize the marketing resources of BTB and NICH to assist artisans in marketing their Belizean made products for international consumption. This initiative will directly impact and benefit artisans living and working in communities that are primarily near to archaeological sites.
The Signing of Contract Ceremony took place on Monday, November 4, 2013 at the House of Culture, Regent Street, Belize City. The Government of Belize received counterpart funding from the European Union via the Belize Rural Development Program II (BRDP II) to finance a project entitled “Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites:” Co-financing for the project is being provided by the Government of Belize through the Ministry of Tourism and Culture represented by the Belize Tourism Board and the National Institute of Culture and History. The project is being implemented by the Belize Tourism Board and the National Institute of Culture and History through a Project Execution Unit housed at the Belize Tourism Board offices.
The MTBCAAS Project was launched in March 2013 and is made possible with grant funding of BZ$2.75m from the European Union and BZ$1.25 contribution from the Belize Tourism Board and the National Institute of Culture and History for a total estimated cost of BZ$4 million. It is being implemented over 24 month period and scheduled to be completed in November 2014.
The objectives of the project are:
*To improve economic opportunities in rural communities and contribute to the reduction of poverty;
*To enhance the tourism experience through improvements in tourism infrastructure and services at selected sites.
The project intends to achieve three main sets of results:
Making Tourism Benefit Communities Adjacent to Archaeological Sites:
*Results One: Improve the monitoring systems at archaeological sites;
*Results Two: Improve health and safety provisions and infrastructure at archaeological sites;
*Results Three: Enhance the diversification of community based tourism products and services offered at archaeological sites in Belize.
The MTBCAAS Project targets communities adjacent to the following nine archaeological sites:
Xunantunich, Nohoch Che’en (Caves’ Branch), Nim Li Punit, Barton Creek, Altun Ha, Lubaantun, Actun Tunichil Muknal, Lamanai and Blue Creek.
For more information, please contact:
Project Coordinator, Ian Morrison at 610-1912 or ian.morrison@brdpIItourism.bz
Administrative Officer, Rubiceli Bradley at 660-0352 or rubiceli.bradley@brdpIItourism.bz
56 Regent Street, 2nd Floor
Belize City
Tel: 227-1781
Email: info@brdpIItourism.bz
