Facilitators of the workshop were Dr. Peter Tarlow and Dr. Keith Smith.  Dr. Tarlow is an expert specializing in the impact of crime and terrorism on the tourism industry, event risk management, and in tourism and economic development.  Tarlow is a well-known author in the field of tourism security.  He is a contributing author in the first major book on tourism security – Tourism, Crime and International Security Issues.  Tarlow is also a contributing author to such major works as “Tourism in Turbulent Times” and “Tourism Security and Safety”.  Dr. Keith Smith holds a PH.D. in Resource Development from Texas A & M University and has eighteen years experience as a police officer serving in the capacity of Patrol Officer in Texas, Narcotics Investigator, Patrol Watch Commander, Accreditation Compliance Commander and Assistant SWAT Commander.

In June of this year, a Tourism Security Task Force was formulated to devise feasible, suitable and sustainable solutions that will serve to deter any future attacks within the remote tourism destinations in Belize.  This is one initiative that supports this mandate.  Attendees at the workshop included members of the private sector and representatives from the Belize Defense Force, the Police Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration Department  and the Belize Tourism Board.

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.