By Belize Live News Staff: Belize’s tourism industry is experiencing a mixed performance, with overnight arrivals surging 23% in the first seven months of 2024 while cruise tourism has declined 2.6%, Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler said on Monday.
The increase in overnight visitors has been attributed to successful marketing campaigns and improvements in tourism infrastructure. However, the cruise sector has been hampered by the lack of a proper berthing facility in Belize City, Mahler explained.
Larger cruise lines prefer to dock their ships rather than tender passengers ashore, a limitation that Belize City currently faces. The minister highlighted the need for investment in a berthing facility to attract more cruise ships and boost the sector’s growth.
The contrasting trends in Belize’s tourism industry underscore the challenges and opportunities facing the country as it seeks to maximize its potential in this vital economic sector.
