In 2007 -just over 251,000 overnight tourists visited Belize. That’s a record high but it still pales in comparison to the 624,000 cruise visitors – who helped the industry rake in $590 million. That’s big money but it’s also a lot of traffic, and a lot of physical stress for delicate sites such as the reefs and Mayan ruins. Sensing danger - a year ago Conservation International and the Belize Tourism Board began consulting with industry stakeholders on a blue print for the Belize Cruise Tourism Industry.
A year later the blueprint has been produced in the form of an action plan - complete with 8 recommendations. Valerie Woods was one of the consultants and she gave us highlights.
Valerie Woods, Consultant
“There are about four broad categories that we went after and this is based really on the discussions that came out from various NGO communities, private sector, cruise lines, and the government of Belize. This is not a document that puts in writing something dictated by the BTB or Conservation International. It really was validated in these various discussions that occurred over the last year.
Some of the main ones include enacting and developing a national mooring buoying policy and plan. The reason for that safety issues, prevention of coral damage caused by anchor, another of course is to revive the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute or some similar lead agency which can play an active role on our seas. The areas that we’re referring to here are not necessarily limited to marine protected areas but they do address those areas that are being highly trafficked by the cruise visitors which play an important role in our biodiversity here in Belize.”
Keith Swift,
What will be the next move?
Valerie Woods,
“The next step is that the Ministry of Tourism through the BTB would actively engage in implementing these plans through perhaps extending the role of what we call, voluntarily, a destination stewardship group, just to focus on these eight recommendations. So really the ball after this is in the court, if you will, in the Ministry of Tourism and BTB to take it one step further and use it as their yearly action plan and what they can do every year to deal with the growth of cruise tourism vis a vie conservation.”
The other recommendations include developing a tourism plan for Belize City, a restoration of historic buildings in Belize City, including an offer of tax incentives for home owners and the establishment of a handicraft market for local vendors.
Woods presented all 8 recommendations to Minister of Tourism Manuel Heredia Jr. at the Radisson Hotel this
afternoon. Heredia along with other tourism stakeholders – including Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya, the Belize Tourism Industry Association, and the Hotel Association signed onto a declaration of commitment for shared stewardship of Belize’s natural heritage. Heredia gave an unequivocal endorsement of the action plan.
Hon. Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism
“I feel that we should be guided by a master plan for the industry which will have good policies in place and also which would have good working team together with this plan we are setting forth for the future.
Government is fully behind the tourism sector, both in the cruise and the overnight tourism. We are committed as a government to make sure that the right policies and the right regulations are done. In other words, a balanced development.”
And in line with two of the recommendations, BTB is moving ahead with the installation of 24 marine buoys in the Sergeant’s Caye and Rendezvous Caye area. Secondly, they will be producing a video to air on cruise lines – so as to sensitize passengers about the protection of coral and marine resources.
