Seine Bight Opens New Welcome Centre
The long-awaited Seine Bight Welcome Centre, first announced in August 2022, officially opened its doors on Sunday. The new facility boasts spaces for gift shops, restaurants, and a palapa for Garifuna drumming performances, all designed to celebrate the culture and creativity of the local community and the wider Placencia Peninsula.
Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler, spoke on the importance of the Welcome Centre for local shops and cultural visibility at the project’s inauguration. “For Seine Bight, this means more opportunities for local shops, greater visibility for culture, and stronger connections to the Placencia peninsula and our overall tourism offerings,” he said in his address.
Minister Mahler also mentioned the challenges faced during the project’s development. He stressed the need for continued community involvement: “This Welcome Centre belongs to all of us, and its success or failure will reflect on the community. We cannot allow it to suffer from neglect, misuse, or lack of care.”
Seine Bight Village Chairman Jose Aleman acknowledged the struggles that come with development but highlighted the positive outcome. “Where there is development, you will hear some cries. But with those cries comes constructive communication, and with constructive communication, this is the end result,” he said.
The project was a collaboration between the Belize Tourism Board and the Seine Bight Village Council and aims to enhance tourism and local businesses in the village.
Facebook Comments