Belize City, Belize, June 26, 2026.
A new wave of support is reaching Belizean tourism entrepreneurs in every corner of the country. On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the Sustainable & Inclusive Belize (SAIB) program held a grant signing and award ceremony for the first cohort of tourism MSMEs to benefit from the initiative, with 39 awardees set to share $1,147,138.00 in funding.
What stands out about Cohort 1 is its diversity. Of the 39 awardees, 13 are female-led enterprises and 4 are Indigenous-led businesses. The grants also reach all six districts, with awards going to Corozal (2), Orange Walk (3), Belize (11), Cayo (6), Stann Creek (10), and Toledo (7), reflecting a nationwide commitment to inclusive growth.
Delivered in partnership with the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations, the grants provide up to BZD $30,000 per business. Recipients can put the funding toward solar-powered infrastructure, sustainable water management, and culinary experiences that showcase local ingredients and traditional Belizean dishes, helping small operators grow while protecting the environment.
This first cohort is only the beginning. SAIB plans to award 150 grants in total over a two-year period, and technical assistance and disbursements are already underway for other participants in the pipeline. A second call for applications is coming soon, opening the door for even more tourism businesses to apply.
The program is moving quickly from ceremony to implementation. Three recipients have already received their first disbursement, and the SAIB team has begun visiting project sites to carry out environmental and social questionnaires that keep every project aligned with the program’s sustainability goals.
“This program is about more than just funding; it’s about building a sustainable and inclusive future for Belizean tourism,” said Mr. Evan Tillett, Director of the Belize Tourism Board, during opening remarks.
The ceremony brought together several partners, with remarks from Ms. Karla González of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Ms. Nicole Usher, CEO of the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations. U Janal Masewal, a grant recipient from San Antonio, Cayo, shared firsthand feedback on the experience, and Mr. Denmar Villar, Project Coordinator for the SAIB Tourism Component, closed the event.
The SAIB program is a government initiative executed by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations, and the Belize Tourism Board, with support from the Inter-American Development Bank. Its goal is to improve incomes and promote sustainable livelihoods across the agriculture and tourism sectors through financial aid and technical assistance for MSMEs.
