Both Hurricane Dean and Hurricane Felix did not only have their effect on the agriculture and infrastructure of Belize but also on the tourists visiting Belize.   It is these two recent incidents that have prompted the Belize Tourism Industry Association to develop, promote and secure the Belizean tourism sector.   This week B-T-I-A announced is partnership with A-I-G Travel Guard which is an insurance company that covers tourists in the event of natural disasters or uncontrollable factors that may affect their trip.   Marketing and Information officer at B-T-I-A is Efren Perez.

Efren Perez,Marketing and Information Officer at B-T-I-A:

“Both hurricanes that have threatened Belize which was both Dean and Felix,we saw the need that most of the properties in Belize are not fully equipped in terms of getting the finance that they need and in terms of recovering.Having the insurance plan,and through AIG,we saw the benefits for our properties for saving that portion for example the non-refundable fees that you need to pay two weeks coming into the country.”

Perez explained that for tourists purchasing the insurance it will be a wise investment.   This at the same time will assist the tourist service providers in Belize to continue receiving tourists with little or no complains.

  Efren Perez,Marketing and Information Officer at B-T-I-A:

“The different properties would be getting with this particular insurance in terms of guests getting covered for luggage lost,for getting flight delays,if there’s an emergency or medical situation,the insurance company will also take care of that in flying our the different guests for medical attention or if it cannot be provided in Belize.So at the end of the day,there is going to be a cost saving for our members.”

The insurance company is one of the U-S leading providers of travel insurance and assistance plans.   However the insurance is only offered to residents of Canada and the United States.   Perez says that B-T-I-A expects this plan will run smoothly and be at the benefit of both the tourists and the tourist sector in Belize.

Efren Perez,Marketing and Information Officer at B-T-I-A:

“The whole project has just been lost.We are working with AIG in terms of getting this information to all our members,and getting them reeled into this whole project.We want to launch it in a way that all our members would have easy access to the AIG website and to the easy tips software that they provide,that members can log in and.It’s very user friendly software.It is up to them,they offer great benefits to the members,in terms of the savings that they would do,in terms of a natural disaster or whenever they’re doing their bookings for whichever hotel that they’re booking with.The information will be available.”