The tourism sector is now approaching the peak of the season with thousands of tourists visiting through all ports of entry.
This is true for both overnight and cruise sectors, and today the Fort Street Tourist Village in Belize City had its crowd. Jomarie Lanza stopped by:
Four cruise ships carrying a near record of 15 thousand cruise visitors made a call on Belize today. It's the busiest cruise day in the busiest month of the year when a total of 51 calls on port are expected, carrying close to 150,000 passengers. For the tourist village association, business is booming. The president John Pollard told us more today
John Pollard, President, Tourist Village Association
"The season is now in the high peak between yesterday and today alone. We had four ships yesterday and four ships today. Today we had over 12k people in the city that's daily so for today everybody in the industry here in the city has prospered from that."
"This is good business for everybody that comes into this industry just that it has a rise and fall."
Jo-
"And are you all prepared to deal with the daily amount of tourists coming in?"
John Pollard, President, Tourist Village Association
"Oh yeah, sometimes it is very risky because preparing daily like for myself its four vehicles so when i come out everyday its $75 in each vehicle. If you prosper meaning if you make it you make it and if you don't make it you don't make it. But in this high season we will make it."
According to Pollard this surge should last from now up until March and April. Approximately 85% of the guests in harbour come onto the mainland for tours.
Jo
"If you've spoke to some of the tourists what are the things they are most excited about? Why are they here? What do they want to see?"
John Pollard, President, Tourist Village Association
"Oh yea, Most of the tourists that come is because now it's always summer time in Belize meaning the sun is out in Belize, though its not really the summer time for Belize. For them they came from where it is cold so they like this warm weather they like to do the cave tubbing they love to do zip lining, mayan temples and most of all the city tour so the city tour tops the chart for right now."
MORE THAN HALF A MILLION cruise tourists will visit Belize before June.
