After being closed for 8 months, the Caye Caulker airstrip was re-opened today. It's a long awaited breather for the residents and business owners on one of Belize's most unique tourist destinations. Keith Swift found out the difference it's going to make.
Keith Swift Reporting, [From Caye Caulker]
Today for the first time in 7 months, there was the roar of plane engines and the sight of metallic birds landing and departing Caye Caulker. Village Chairman Alberto Villanueva Jr. says his island is re-opened for business.
Alberto Villanueva, Village Chairman
"In Caye Caulker the life blood is now tourism and previously had only one access which is the water so the opening of the air strip is pretty much what the Caye Caulker people call an upgrade 'cause a lot of our higher end passengers tend to come through the international airport and then directly to Caye Caulker. As well we need it for emergencies and its basically a significant impact overall with Caye Caulker. They are very happy because we have been hurting for the past 7 months but its over now and we're regrouping and getting ready."
They became ready around mid-day when Airports Authority Chairman Max Samuels officially cut the ribbon opening the re-profiled, re-fitted, and resized 2800 foot long Caye Caulker airstrip. A very different airstrip from the one they had before.
Efrain Aguilar, Villager
"A lot of tourists complain that they were scared when the planes landed."
Cadet Henderson, Chief Engineer
"There was a major safety concern. About midday along the runway it had major ripples, major waves, and some pilots use to actually use it as a ramp to prematurely launch the aircraft off the runway. So we ripped up the entire surface of the runway and reconstructed it to a new engineered profile."
That took seven months, which left this island stranded and accessible only by sea, an inconvenience for both residents and tourists. Tourists like American Abe Neal.
Abe Neal,
"I've been coming down here for several years and I flied direct and I was here in 12 minutes and I love it and I was a bit disappointed. I thought the airstrip would be opened by now when I got here but that's the way it goes. I am very very glad its open now and I am looking forward to flying out tomorrow."
Alberto Villanueva,
"I would not be able to put that in figures but we have been getting concerns from the business community, particularly the hotel industry and the tour operators, saying that their figures are down for the year. Now that we are in the middle of the season we hope to basically move that back up and take it from there."
Efrain Aguilar, Hotelier
"We have a lot of tourists that come in through the international airport and want to fly directly to the caye so those people were inconvenienced."
The new runway cost government over $800,000. It is a pricey capital expenditure in lean times, but Tourism Minister Godfrey Smith says it is also an important one - important because of destination Caye Caulker.
Godfrey Smith, Minister of Tourism
"Caye Caulker is more of a niche market. Obviously, you have some people who go to San Pedro for the bigger hotels, bigger restaurants, and bigger bars. Caye Caulker is a bit more laid back and there are some tourists who like it a bit more laidback. The backpackers as you mentioned and people who are into more environment related eco-tourism would want to come here so obviously its not a question of ranking one above the other but a question of making sure that all aspects of the Belize tourism product are adequately addressed and marketed. Certainly for international tourists there is no doubt that San Pedro Ambergris Caye is the number one destination but Caye Caulker has its own fans and our job from a policy standpoint is to make sure we help in their product development to keep those who are inclined to come to Caye Caulker."
A job made easier and smoother by the new runway.
The runway is precisely 2800 feet long and 40 feet wide. It was constructed in two phases by Triple B Heavy Equipment Limited in the first instance and CISCO Construction in the latter phase. Government footed the $809,000 bill. The Placencia airstrip is next in line for repairs.
