Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Betex, Belize's Tourism Expo, starts tomorrow, and ends Friday.  Many Cayo businesses will be attending the BTIA organized event, which will, take place in Belize City.  Cayo's Larry Waight wrote an article about BETEX for commdiginews.com.  You can find out more at their website: http://www.betex.bz/

"The Belize Tourism Expo is an initiative of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, Belize’s leading national private sector tourism association. BTIA represents a unified voice, and advocates for issues that benefit its members.  BTIA also influences tourism policy, legislation and marketing for the sustainable development of the industry and improved quality of the visitor experience. BETEX was first organized in 1996 and now takes place every two years, attracting approximately 300 - 350 local and international tourism professionals and press representatives."

The Flavors of Belize cookbook was the subject of Larry Waight's recent interview with Tanya McNab.  The interview is a great read, as is the book.

"The fascinating thing about Belizean cuisine is that we are able to pull influences from all over the world, while still being able to call it our own and stand apart from all of them.  Due to Belize’s rich history of welcoming so many immigrants from across the globe, our country, culture, and inevitably our cuisine has become a fusion of these many different influences and that is what makes it so special.  We have dishes that can blend the curry brought here by the Indians with chocolate, a staple of the Maya for a dish that is a hint at both cultures but so different that it’s in a category all on it’s own.  We don’t realize how lucky we are to enjoy good food almost everyday with such ease and inexpensively at that."

The Cayo BTIA recently elected some new board members.  They met last week at Rumors Resort.  Congratulations to the new board.  Best of luck to you as you move forward, and promote tourism in Cayo.

Chairman - Larry Waight, Chaa Creek
Vice Chair - Joe Awe - Nine Ecological Tours
Secretary - Shirley Panti - Duplooy's Jungle Lodge
Treasurer - Lee Austin - Diamond Realty
Director - Michael Simmons - Cayo Adventure Tours
Director - Chester Williams - Calico Jack's Village
Director - Geovanni Fernandez - Black Rock Lodge

"The meeting gathered over twenty four participants (members and supporters) of the Cayo chapter, with the aim of electing a new board which would be responsible for the leadership and direction of the destination.  Ms. Estela Requena, BTIA Executive Director presided over the meeting and emphasized on the importance of the active participation of all members, in order to build a stronger and more influential chapter.  'The BTIA stands at the forefront of the industry and it is of great importance that the Chapter is organized and active in order to strengthen the destination and the country,' commented Ms. Requena."

Not just another top 10 list on Belize.  This one was written by Cayo's Larry Waight, and while Cayo is conspicuously absent from the list - hopefully his next article is 100 things to do in Cayo - some of our Mayan archaeological sites are mentioned under the heading, Belize is the epicenter of the ancient Maya world.  Give the Huffington Post article a read when you get a chance.

"Archaeologists estimate that more than one million Maya lived in present day Belize and flourished during the Classic Period from 300 to 900 AD.  Maya temple sites like Caracol, Xunantunich, Altun Ha, Cahal Pech and Lamanai are just a few of the spectacular sites that can be discovered in Belize."