By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Belize’s trip to the World Travel Market in London was meant to promote tourism. It turned into a diplomatic dispute after Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler objected to a map on display at Guatemala’s booth.
The map reportedly showed Belize as part of Guatemala’s territory, setting the country apart with dotted boundary lines and a different shading pattern.
Mahler reportedly raised the issue during a ministerial panel. He called the display another example of Guatemala pressing its territorial claim over Belize, then went to the booth to challenge it in person.
The timing matters. Belize and Guatemala still have a case before the International Court of Justice over Guatemala’s territorial claim.
For Belizeans, this is about more than tourism marketing. It concerns the country’s internationally recognized independence, its territorial integrity and its right to decide its own future.
The dispute came during an otherwise strong week for Belize tourism. At the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards in London, Belize won Gold for Most Desirable Emerging Destination, international recognition of its growing appeal to travellers.
The World Travel Market gives Belize a chance to attract European visitors and build tourism partnerships. This week also showed that the long-running territorial dispute can come up even at international events like this one.
The post Not your territory! Mahler challenges Guatemala over Belize map at London tourism show appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Belize’s trip to the World Travel Market in London was meant to promote tourism. It turned into a diplomatic dispute after Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler objected to a map on display at Guatemala’s booth. The map reportedly showed Belize as part of Guatemala’s territory, setting the country apart with
The post Not your territory! Mahler challenges Guatemala over Belize map at London tourism show appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
