Tourism in Belize


Tourism in Belize has grown considerably recently, and it is now the second largest industry in the nation. Belizean Prime Minister Dean Barrow has stated his intention to use tourism to combat poverty throughout the country. The growth in tourism has positively affected the agricultural, commercial, and finance industries, as well as the construction industry. The results for Belize's tourism-driven economy have been significant, with the nation welcoming almost one million tourists in a calendar year for the first time in its history in 2012.

History

Prior to its independence in 1981, Belize was not regarded as a place to travel due to lack of infrastructure to cater to large-scale tourism. However, rapid expansion of the tourist industry over the last decade has made it the nation's second largest industry.
Tourism:
Belize has large array of diverse tourists, adventure tourists and eco-tourist attractions. The Belize Barrier Reef, over 450 offshore Cayes, excellent fishing, safe waters for windsurfing, swimming, cave rafting, boating, paddleboarding, scuba diving, and snorkelling, numerous rivers for rafting, and kayaking, various jungle and wildlife reserves of fauna and flora, for hiking, bird watching, and helicopter touring, as well as many Maya ruins—support the thriving tourism and ecotourism industry. Of the hundreds of cave systems, Belize also holds the largest cave system in Central America, 544 species of birds, and well-preserved natural beauty. Despite all this, it is still among the least visited country in the region.
Development costs are high, but the Government of Belize has designated tourism as its second development priority after agriculture. In 2012, tourist arrivals totalled 917,869 and tourist receipts amounted to over $1.3 billion.
Tourism is the domain of the Ministry of Tourism, within which the Belize Tourism Board works as a link between the private and public sector.
The tourism industry is an important part of the economy of Belize, in 2007 contributing to over 25% of all jobs, and making up over 18% of the GDP. This constituted 590 million BZD, according to the Belize government, up 90 million BZD from the year before. Important tourist attractions in Belize include the natural attractions of land and sea, making the areas important in Ecotourism, as well as the historic ruins of Belize's Pre-Columbian Maya civilization.
Popular tourist destinations include San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker, both located about 70 km and 40 km east off the coast of Belize, both situation only a few miles from the Barrier Reef at any point. They have been regarded as a "tropical paradises" by the Los Angeles Times. Cruise ships have been docking in Belize City, and average 850,000 tourists alone every year, some who partake in tours to nearby districts as well as the colonial city.

Mainland beaches

Many privately run companies have cooperatives in Southern Belize that manage a rural and community-based tourism project, which has been developed with support from the UNESCO. Tourism allows otherwise marginalized minorities such as the Maya and the Garifuna people to receive new opportunities in alternative markets, harvest crops, preserve and involve foreigners in their culture and diversify their income. Many companies offer visitors the opportunity to visit a cacao, cashew farm, learn about Maya, Kriol or Garifuna craftsmanship, and even to stay overnight on a Maya, Kriol or Garifuna village and explore with a community guide.

Ecological tourism

aims to be ecologically and socially conscious, it focuses on local culture, wilderness, and adventure. Belize's eco-tourism is growing with every passing year, it boasts a number of eco-tourist tours and energy efficient hotels, with environmentally-conscious and renewable resources. Popular eco-tourism destinations in Belize include the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Community Baboon Sanctuary.

Waterfalls

Before the arrival of Europeans in America, Belize lay in the heartland of the Maya civilisation, and consequently contains some of the earliest and most important Maya ruins. Archaeological findings at Caracol, in the southern end of the country, have suggested that it formed the centre of political struggles in the southern Maya lowlands. The complex covered an area much larger than present-day Belize City and supported more than twice the modern city's population. Meanwhile, Lamanai, in the north, is known for being the longest continually-occupied site in Mesoamerica, settled during the early Preclassic era and continuously occupied up to and during the area's colonisation.
While the majority of reserves under this category are related to the pre-colonial era, Serpon Sugar Mill and Yarborough Cemetery, both designated in 2009, only date from the 19th century and are alternatively described as historical reserves.
The country's 15 archaeological sites are managed by the Institute of Archaeology, a branch of the National Institute of Culture and History, which comes under the authority of the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture. This type of protected area was gazetted under the Ancient Monuments and Antiquities Act, 1 May 1972. All of the following reserves are open to the public. Many other sites, such as Cuello and Uxbenka, are located on private land and can only be visited if prior permission is obtained from the landowner.

List of Maya ruins in Belize

The following is a list of other archaeological sites located within Belize:
Roughly 26% of Belizean land and sea is preserved within a total of 95 reserves, which vary in their purpose and level of protection. This network of protected areas exists under a variety of management structures:

National parks

In Belize, national parks are areas designed for the protection and preservation of natural and aesthetic features of national significance for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. Therefore, they are areas of recreation and tourism, as well as environmental protection. National parks are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981. They are administered by the Forest Department and managed through partnership agreements with community-based non-governmental organisations.
ReserveDistrictSize
Size
IUCNCo-managementEst.Description
Aguas TurbiasOrange WalkII— 1994-
Bacalar ChicoBelizeVGreen Reef Environmental Institute 1996Excludes adjacent [|marine reserve].-
Billy BarquedierStann CreekIISteadfast Tourism and Conservation Association2001-
ChiquibulCayoIIFriends for Conservation and Development1995Excludes adjacent [|forest reserve].-
Five Blues LakeCayoIIFriends of Five Blues Lake National Park1994-
Gra Gra LagoonStann CreekIIFriends of Gra Gra Lagoon2002-
GuanacasteCayoIIBelize Audubon Society1994-
Honey CampCorozal / Orange WalkIIAssociation of Friends of Freshwater Creek 2001-
Laughing Bird CayeStann CreekIISouthern Environmental Association1996-
Mayflower BocawinaStann CreekIIFriends of Mayflower Bocawina National Park2001-
Monkey BayBelizeIIGuardians of the Jewel 1994-
Nojkaaxmeen Elijio PantiCayoIIBelize Development Foundation 2001-
Payne's CreekToledoIIToledo Institute for Development and Environment1994-
Peccary HillsBelizeIIGracie Rock Reserve for Adventure, Culture and Ecotourism2007-
Río BlancoToledoIIRío Blanco Mayan Association1994-
Sarstoon-TemashToledoIISarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management1994Ramsar site.-
St. Herman's Blue HoleStann CreekIIBelize Audubon Society1986-

Natural monuments

A natural monument is designated for the preservation of unique geographic features of the landscape. The designation is primarily based on a feature's high scenic value, but may also be regarded as a cultural landmark that represents or contributes to a national identity.
Natural monuments are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981; marine-based monuments additionally come under the Fisheries Act. Of the five natural monuments in the country, three are terrestrial, administered by the Forest Department, while the remaining two are marine-based and come under the authority of the Fisheries Department.
ImageReserveDistrictSize
Size
IUCNCo-managementEst.Description
Actun Tunichil MuknalCayoIaBelize Audubon Society; Institute of Archaeology2004Terrestrial.-
Blue HoleBelizeIIIBelize Audubon Society1996Marine.-
Half Moon CayeBelizeIIBelize Audubon Society1982Marine.-
Thousand Foot FallsCayoIII— 2004Terrestrial.-
Victoria PeakStann CreekIIIBelize Audubon Society1998Terrestrial.-

Nature reserves

The country's three nature reserves enjoy the highest level of protection within the national protected areas system. The designation was created for the strict protection of biological communities or ecosystems, and the maintenance of natural processes in an undisturbed state. They are typically pristine, wilderness ecosystems.
Nature reserves are legislated under the National Parks System Act of 1981. It is the strictest designation of all categories within the country's national protected areas system, with no extractive use or tourism access permitted. Permits are required to enter the area and are restricted to researchers only. The nature reserves are under the authority of the Forest Department.
The oldest of these, Bladen Nature Reserve, forms the centrepiece of the Maya Mountains biological corridor, and is considered one of the most biodiversity-rich, and topographically unique areas within the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot.
ReserveDistrictSize
Size
IUCNCo-managementEst.Description
BladenToledoIaYa’axché Conservation Trust; Bladen Management Consortium1990-
Burdon CanalBelizeIa— 1992-
Tapir MountainCayoIaBelize Audubon Society1994Formerly known as Society Hall Nature Reserve.-

Wildlife sanctuaries

are created for the preservation of an important keystone species in the ecosystem. By preserving enough area for them to live in, many other species receive the protection they need as well.
Wildlife sanctuaries are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981, and are the responsibility of the Forest Department. There are currently seven wildlife sanctuaries, three of which are being managed under co-management partnerships, whilst the other four are managed under informal arrangements. Two of the following wildlife sanctuaries are considered to be marine protected areas, and may also have collaborative agreements with the Fisheries Department in place.
ReserveDistrictSize
Size
IUCNCo-managementEst.Description
AguacalienteToledoIVAguacaliente Management Team 1998Terrestrial.-
Cockscomb BasinStann Creek / ToledoIVBelize Audubon Society1997Terrestrial.-
Corozal BayBelize / CorozalIVSarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development 1998Marine.-
Crooked TreeBelize / Orange WalkIVBelize Audubon Society1984Ramsar site. Boundaries ill defined. Terrestrial.-
Gales PointBelizeIVGales Point Wildlife Sanctuary Community Management Committee 1998Terrestrial.-
Spanish CreekBelize / Orange WalkIVRancho Dolores Development Group 2002Terrestrial.-
Swallow CayeBelizeIVFriends of Swallow Caye2002Marine.-

Forest reserves

s, overseen by the Forest Department, are designed for the sustainable extraction of timber without destroying the biodiversity of the location. These are gazetted under the Forests Act of 1927, which allows the department to grant permits to logging companies after extensive review. There are currently 16 forest reserves with a combined acreage of, making up 9.3% of total national territory.
ReserveDistrictSize
Size
IUCNEst.Description
Caye CaulkerBelizeVI1998Excludes adjacent marine reserve.-
ChiquibulCayoVI1995Excludes adjacent [|national park].-
Columbia RiverCayo / ToledoVI1997-
Deep RiverToledoVI-
Fresh Water CreekCorozal / Orange WalkVI1926-
Grants WorkStann CreekVI1989-
MachacaToledoVI1998-
ManateeBelize / Stann CreekVI1959-
Mango CreekStann Creek / ToledoVI1989Comprises two separate segments.-
Monkey CayeToledoVI1996-
Mountain Pine RidgeCayoVI1944-
Maya MountainStann CreekVI1997-
SibunCayoVI1959-
Sittee RiverStann CreekVI-
Swasey BladenToledoVI1989-
VacaCayoVI1991-

Marine reserves

are designed for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems, including marine wildlife and its environment. The majority of these reserves contribute to the conservation of Belize's Barrier Reef, which provides a protective shelter for pristine atolls, seagrass meadows and rich marine life. The preservation of the Barrier Reef system has been recognised as a global interest through the collective designation of seven protected areas, including four of the following marine reserves, as a World Heritage Site.
Marine reserves are legislated under the Fisheries Act, and are administered by the Fisheries Department. One of the department's key responsibilities is to ensure the sustainable extraction of marine resources. There are currently eight marine reserves, management of which is either direct, by the department, or in partnership with non-governmental agencies.
ReserveDistrictSize
Size
IUCNCo-managementEst.Description
Bacalar ChicoBelizeIVGreen Reef Environmental Institute 1996Excludes adjacent national park. Divided into two zones: a conservation zone, and a general use zone.-
Caye CaulkerBelizeVIForest & Marine Reserves Association of Caye Caulker1998Excludes adjacent forest reserve.-
Gladden Spit and Silk CayesStann CreekIVSouthern Environmental Association2000Divided into two zones: a general use zone, and a conservation zone.-
Glover's ReefBelizeIV—1993In 2001, the reserve was divided into four zones: a general use zone, a conservation zone, a seasonal closure zone, and a wilderness zone. A spawning aggregation zone was broken off in 2003 and comes under separate management.-
Hol ChanBelizeIIHol Chan Trust Fund1987Divided into four zones: Mangrove, Seagrass, Shark Ray Alley, and Coral Reef.-
Port HondurasToledoIVToledo Institute for Development and Environment2000Divided into two zones: a general use zone, and a conservation zone.-
Sapodilla CayesToledoIVSouthern Environmental Association1996-
South Water CayeStann CreekIV—1996-

Gallery

Attractions by district

Belize District
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Stann Creek District
Orange Walk District
Cayo District
Toledo District
Corozal District