Mr. Clare has been working with the Belize Tourism Industry Association for approximately four years. He first worked for the Belize Tourism Training Unit (BTTU) in the capacity of Tourism Training Coordinator and most recently as Marketing and Database Officer for the BTIA. He currently holds the position of Marketing and Information Officer for the BTIA.

Mr. Clare will be attending the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, which is a branch of the world famous Klessheim School of Tourism located in Salzburg, Austria. He enrolls in the Tourism and Hospitality Program where he will be expected to undertake general courses in this field during the first part of the program. The second part of his training will require him to specialize in any one of the following additional special modules: Hotel Management, Food & Beverage Management, or Tourism Marketing & Travel Agency Management. At the end of the eight-month program, which commences October 1^st, 2006, Mr. Clare will also be given the opportunity to gain practical experience by opting to undertake a three-month internship program within a tourism establishment in Austria.

The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers approximately 30 scholarships to students from developing countries. Mr. Clare's full scholarship includes tuition, fees, food and accommodation, health insurance, travel expenses and pocket money. "Tourism is an important economic sector in our country," comments Tourism Director, Tracy Taegar-Panton. "Training continues to be at the vanguard for cultivating the tourism product and in ensuring that young Belizeans build capacity to become major stakeholders and industry leaders. The BTB extends our sincere congratulations to Mr. Clare," Taegar-Panton went on to say.

The Tourism Scholarship in Austria is awarded yearly to a Belizean national desirous of pursuing a tourism career. Last year's recipient was Ms. Lorena Martinez, Marketing Officer of the BTB, who returned to Belize in June. This program has been instituted for the past six years with the assistance of the Austrian Government. Other Belizeans who have benefited includes Irma Matus, Erza Del Angel, Eliom Ellis, Victoria Ogaldez, and Diana Rosito.

For more information on the developments and events Belize's Tourism Industry, please contact the Marketing Department at the Belize Tourism Board at (501)-223-1913, via email: btbb@btl.net or visit our website www.travelbelize.org.

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Lorraine Herrera

Marketing Officer

Belize Tourism Board

3 1/2 Mls. Northern Highway

Belize City, Belize

Tel: 501-223-1913