Belize City, Belize – October 16th, 2012 – The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is pleased to announce that in the continuous effort to further enhance the visitor experience of cruise tourists, the Capacity Building & Training Team is embarking on a two-day interactive training session for 23 Hair Braiders from the Fort Street Tourism Village Zone. The training session will be held on October 18th – 19th 2012 at ITVET in Belize City. It will be facilitated by Ms. Mapye Smith, covering topics such as Professionalism, Etiquette, Health & Safety and Job Hazards in Hair Braiding.
The Hair Braiders training course will serve as a sensitization process which will include assisting participants in the development of their marketing strategies, introduction of the underlying principles of marketing in the context of tourism services and best practices in customer relations. Upon completion of the training session, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion and a Hair Braiding Kit which will include some hair care products and sanitizers on behalf of the Belize Tourism Board.
Equally important to mention is that the present Hair Braider’s Minimum Standards will be reviewed and updated soon and once legislated by law, Hair Braiders would have to go through a licensing process every year in order to conduct business in the Fort Street Tourism Village Zone and in the country. The purpose of this initiative is to allow a suitable organization of Hair Braiders in that tourism area.
About the Belize Tourism Board
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is a statutory body within the Belize Ministry of Tourism and Culture, and it is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Tourism and Culture. The BTB works in conjunction with members of the private sector – including the Belize Hotel Association, Belize Tourism Industry Association and Belize National Tour Operators Association – and is dedicated to building tourism in the most economically and environmentally sustainable manner. As a part of its responsibilities, the BTB promotes Belize as a premier tourism destination to both in-country and international consumers. Among its outreach to the international travel market, the BTB markets the country’s unique attractions to travellers, members of the travel trade industry and media outlets in key markets.
The BTB is also dedicated to developing and implementing tourism programs that will help strengthen and grow the Belizean tourism industry; promote good destination stewardship; and instill high quality standards for accommodations and travel experiences. For more information on the BTB and its services, visit www.travelbelize.org.
