Criteria for licensing

(1) Subject to subregulation (2) below, the Board shall grant a licence to– (a) an individual who is a Belizean citizen or permanent resident with the business of “tour operator” defined as his occupation on the permanent residency permit; (b) an entity which is controlled by a majority of Belizeans or permanent residents of Belize, or a company whose majority shareholding is owned by Belizeans or permanent residents, and which possesses a valid trade licence; 24 (c) applicants who have not, for the past five years, been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty, and who have not within that period been declared bankrupt; (d) applicants with all appropriate tour and safety equipment essential for the particular tour operation as set out in Schedule III hereto; Tour and Safety Equipment. Schedule III. (e) applicants with the ability and capability to package, market and/or operate tours and represent Belize, both within and without, in a professional manner; (f) individuals who are eighteen (18) years old and above; (g) applicants who submit, together with their application forms as set out in Schedule I heretoApplication Form. Schedule I. (i) proof of “tour operators” business registered under the laws of Belize; and (ii) one written letter of recommendation from an individual within the tourism community of Belize of good standing recognised by the Committee; and (iii) a non-refundable application fee of Belize two hundred and fifty dollars; and (iv) two photographs of the interior and exterior of the place where they carry on the business of tour operators; and 25 (v) in the case of a company, a copy of its memorandum and articles of association and certificate of registration; and (vi) professional details of persons employed or to be employed by the applicant, and the number of Belizean citizens or permanent residents so employed; and (vii) a description of the nature and category of tour packages offered, or to be offered, by the applicant, including the equipment operated by the tour operator, and the tourist sites or tourist activities associated with such tour packages. (2) Tour Operators who have been operating as such for a period of at least one year before the commencement of these Regulations (including without limitation all types of hotels and tourist accommodation as defined in the Hotels and Tourist Accommodation Act) and who do not meet the licensing criteria specified in subregulation (1)(a) and (b) above may obtain a licence under these Regulations provided that they meet all the other licensing criteria specified in subregulation (1)(c) to (g) above and provided further that they submit to the CommitteeCAP. 285. (a) proof of continuous tour operations in Belize for a period of at least one year prior to the commencement of these Regulations, in the form of receipts, evidence of income and business tax returns or previous trade licences or any other evidence of a similar nature; and (b) proof that they are competent to conduct the business of tour operators; and 26 (c) any other requirements which the Committee may stipulate as a condition precedent to the issue of the licence. (3) Tour operators who do not fall under the categories specified in regulation 2(2), or under subregulation (2) of this regulation may only operate in Belize if they utilise the services of tour operators licensed under these Regulations and they submit to the Committee, in such detail as the Committee may require, the names and other particulars of such tour operators. (4) Any foreign tour operator who conducts tour operations in Belize in contravention of subregulation (3) above commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding Belize five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months.