Establishment and composition of the Council

(1) A body to be known as the Belize National Tourism Council shall be and is hereby established for the purposes of this Act as an autonomous institution governed by the provisions of this Act. 6 (2) The Council may exercise any of the functions entrusted to it by or in accordance with the provisions of this Act or any Regulations made thereunder, and may execute any other duties incidental to, or consequential upon, the performance of its functions. (3) The Council shall consist of the following members, (a) the Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of (b) the Chairperson of the Belize Tourism Board; (c) a representative of the Ministry for the time being responsible for Tourism; (d) a representative of the Ministry for the time being responsible for Agriculture and Fisheries; (e) a representative of the Ministry for the time being responsible for Natural Resources and the Environment; (f) the Director of the Institute for the Research and Management of Material Culture; (g) the Director of Tourism; (h) the Director of Immigration and Nationality, with the Comptroller of Customs as his alternate; (i) the Presidents of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, National Water Taxi Association, the Belize Tour Guides Association, the Belize Hotel Association, the Mayors’ Association, the Belize Car Rental Association, the Belize National Tour 7 Operators Association, the Belize Audubon Society and the Belize Airline Operators Association; (j) a representative nominated by the Belize Tourism Industry Association for the international airlines operating in Belize; (k) a representative nominated by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry; (l) a representative nominated by the Protected Areas Conservation Trust; (m) a representative of the Ministry for the time being responsible for Human Development. (4) The members of the Council referred to in subsection (3)(i) of this section, shall hold office for as long as they hold the office of President within the organization which they represent on the Council, but each of them shall cease to be a member of the Council if he ceases to be President of the aforesaid organization, and shall automatically be replaced as member by his successor as President of the said organization. (5) The members of the Council referred to in subsection (3)(a) to (h) and (m) of this section, shall be ex officio (6) The members of the Council referred to in subsection (3) (j) of this section, may be removed from the Council by the Minister on the recommendation of the organization which nominated their appointment. (7) The Minister shall appoint the members referred to in subsection (3)(a) to (m) of this section. 8