4 months ago, 7News told you about the Belize Tourism Board's 11.7 million US dollar plan to enhance locations around the country which it called the Sustainable Tourism Project.
The project is aimed at enhancing major tourism areas in San Ignacio, Placencia, Belize City and San Pedro. We've already shown you the work being done on the Placencia Pier and Sidewalk, and the Memorial Park and Fort Point area of Belize City.
Today, we went to San Pedro to the witness the ceremonial launching Sunset Boardwalk & Water Taxi Terminal project. It is an ambitious project which aims to rebuild the waterfront area in front of the SacaChispa Football Field, to create a world class tourist destination with an outstanding water terminal.
The Tourism Ministry executives explained more about the project:
Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism
"Today San Pedro is breaking ground on a project which encompasses the elements that also keenly shaped the lives of many San Pedranos. This is a project that would employ local employment of the water front with creation, leisure and sporting activities, one which catalysts commercial and tourism related business opportunities for our local entrepreneurs - a unique new development that embraces our fishing heritage and the maritime function of the lagoon - yet reflects the essence of modern day San Pedro. The Sunset boardwalk and water taxi terminal will dramatically improve the aesthetic look of the lagoon frontage. It will consolidate water travel, enhance visitors overall experience and give an impressive first impression as our guests arrive from Chetumal or other areas of Belize. It is our vision that this project will resort in an increase in visitors' frequency to San Pedro, hence contribute to the overall growth of Belize's economy."
Christy Mastry, Sustainable Tourism Program
"The project is made up of three main components; the fisherman's promenade on Sunset boardwalk which will extend here all the way north to where the actual Hol Chan pier ends, the re-habilitation of the football field which we are standing in front of today which will be expanded out into the lagoon to regain the land area where the road cuts off in order to allow for full access through the road right behind us today as a through traffic street on the island and of course to encourage cultural and local events that happen here which already happen here and then of course the water taxi terminal and platform, that's really to engage more properly both the local and international traffic that we are seeing with boat and immigration and customs standpoint and all the proper logistics that need to take place for that to expand. We are looking about 800 linear feet of paved landscape for the promenade and boardwalk. Over 10,000 sq. feet of usable replacement piers which we will be rebuilding all of the wooden piers that you are seeing out here today."
"We will have access for boat launching; there boat areas, one offloading pier structure to service the community as well. A complete upgrade and pavement of Nurse Shark Street roadway which is behind us as well and a replace of all the sheds that you see housed on the piers right now."
"The Saca Chispa football field will include the reclamation of the lagoon in order to shift as I mention the actual field westward so that this can become a through traffic street at all times and the development of a new water front area with vending structures serving all the boat arrivals as well. New public restrooms and a secure field with a new wall with entry control as well and also to provide for hurricane protection for boats should they need to dry-dock during the hurricane times this will provide a safe haven for dry-dock as well."
"The water taxi terminal and platform is over 20,000 sq. feet which will house local and international water travel. We will be able to house both customs and immigrations on the pier itself along with some vending opportunities, public restrooms, 8 vending structures that will be out there and then 8 shaded seating as well as lighting, trashcans and other landscaping features."
Work is expected to begin in the next couple months, and it is estimated that the project will be completed in 16 months.
