World Tourism Day: Mobile Photo Contest

World Tourism Day: Mobile Photo Contest (#TourismForPeaceBZ)

World Tourism Day is celebrated worldwide on September 27. This year’s theme is “Tourism and Peace,” and this photo contest aims to showcase how tourism fosters peace and understanding in society through visual storytelling. Photos should focus on moments and scenes that highlight harmony, unity, and respect between people, people and nature, or within cultural and historical contexts.

  • Submission Period: September 3, 2024 – September 16, 2024
  • Winners Announced: September 27, 2024

Prizes:

  • #TourismForPeaceBZ Winner: One GoPro 11 + $500 Cash Prize
  • Most Unique Photo Winner: One GoPro 11 + $250 Cash Prize

Eligibility:

  • Open exclusively to students currently enrolled in tertiary-level institutions in Belize.
  • BTB Employees, their immediate family members, and selection committee members are not eligible to participate in the contest.
  • To submit your entry for the #TourismForPeaceBZ Contest, you must:

    1. Ensure your photo was taken with a mobile phone and embodies the theme of “Tourism and Peace.” Photos can depict but are not limited to:
      • Cultural Interactions: Photos that show how persons from different cultural backgrounds engage in meaningful interactions, such as participating in a local festival, sharing traditions, etc.
      • Natural Serenity: Photos that capture the peaceful beauty of Belize’s natural scenery, highlighting how nature promotes inner peace and relaxation. Or photos showcasing local or international travelers interacting with nature.
      • Peaceful Coexistence: Photos that show wildlife in harmony with their environment or scenes of daily life where people live harmoniously.
      • Cultural or Historical landmarks: Photos that show cultural or historical sites around Belize that symbolize peace, unity, or the shared heritage of Belize.
    2. Submit your entry via email to [email protected] during the submission period only. Please include the subject line: “TourismForPeaceBZ Contest.”
    3. Include the following in your email submission:
      • The official photo submission in JPEG format along with the original (unedited) photo. Only minimal editing is allowed, such as color correction and cropping.
      • Maximum photo size: 10MB
      • Short description (100-150 words) explaining how your photo reflects the theme for World Tourism Day, including the location where the photo was taken.
      • Full Name
      • Address
      • Phone Number
      • Name of Tertiary Institution and copy of student ID
  • One Photo per Entry: Each participant can submit only one photo.
  • Submission Method: Entries must be submitted via email ([email protected]).
  • Mobile Phone Photography: Only photographs captured using a mobile phone are eligible.
  • Descriptive Caption: Include a short caption (100-150 words) explaining how your photo reflects tourism and peace.
  • Original Photo: Photo must be original material and free of any of watermarks.
  • Appropriate Content: All photo submissions must be respectful, family-friendly, and authentic, accurately depicting subjects without offensive or misleading content. Photos must also comply with applicable laws and respect privacy and intellectual property rights.
  • Participants must be a legal resident of Belize.
  • No AI Usage: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to alter or enhance photos is prohibited, including the use of generative AI tools during the editing process.
  • Photo Usage Rights:
    • For all pictures except awarded pictures, copyright holders grant the Belize Tourism Board non-exclusive use of low-resolution pictures in a non-public archive for its educational and research activities, without any remuneration being due.
    • For awarded pictures, copyright holders grant the Belize Tourism Board unlimited non-exclusive use of high-resolution pictures for activities in all media, including social media, online and print, in relation to the contest, and all promotional and educational activities for and under the auspices of the BTB, without any remuneration being due.
    • The copyright holders represent and warrant that submission of the pictures does not breach any law, and further that no third party can hold any claims or any objections regarding the rights granted to the BTB. The copyright holders will hold the BTB harmless of any claims from third parties related hereto.
  • Disqualification: BTB reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not comply with the rules, including but not limited to late submissions, inappropriate content, or failure to adhere to photo size and format requirements.

Photos will be evaluated based on the following:

    • Relevance to Theme: How well the photo aligns with and enhances the theme of “Tourism and Peace.”
    • Composition and Technique: The quality of framing, lighting, focus, and overall visual appeal.
    • Creativity and Impact: Originality, emotional impact, and the ability to provoke thought or offer a new perspective.
    • Written Description: Clarity and effectiveness in conveying the intent and meaning behind the photo.
  • There will be two awards: Overall Winner (TourismForPeaceBZ) and Most Unique Photo Winner. The most unique photo will receive bonus points for capturing an unusual perspective or subject matter. Winners will be announced via BTB’s social media pages.

    ** Winners are required to appear in person at the Belize Tourism Board office in Belize City for an official photo-op to receive their prizes, and must do so at their own expense without any compensation.

    For more information contact [email protected] or the Public Relations Coordinator at 227-2420.

    We encourage all eligible students to participate and showcase the power of tourism in building a more peaceful world!