Aided by a huge 47 pc growth in the number of cruise ship arrivals, Belize received about 465,000 overnight visitors in the year 2023, marking a 25 pc growth in the year. The country has set an ambitious target of receiving over 950,000 cruise ship visitors in the current year.

Latin American country Belize has registered a healthy growth in its international tourist arrivals, with a total of 464,717 overnight visitors in 2023, a growth of 25 pc in the numbers recorded in 2022.

According to a press statement by Belize Tourism Board, the increased land and sea arrivals came as the nation recently issued guidelines under the second phase of its Sustainable Tourism Plan.

BTB says that in December 2023, Belize recorded the second-highest overnight tourist arrival total for any month in its history, with 55,574 visitors. They add that the country’s cruise ship arrivals surged 47 pc in 2023 over 2022, with 904,189 visitors.

BTB officials expect Belize to host “950,000 plus” cruise ship visitors in 2024. They add that on January 10, Belize experienced what is expected to be the busiest day of the 2024 cruise season with four ships, namely Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic, Sky Princess and Regal Princess, calling with a collective 16,000 passengers.

However, the statement adds that despite this year’s growth, Belize’s tourism activity remains below the pre-pandemic levels. Belize’s land-based visitor arrivals in 2023 trailed 2019 levels by 7.6 pc and 2023 cruise ship arrivals were 23 pc below 2019 totals.

BTB says that the recently introduced second phase of BTB’s Sustainable Tourism Programme will focus on the enhancement of the country’s tourism infrastructure at “target destinations” including the Corozal, Caye Caulker, Mountain Pine Ridge/Caracol Area and Toledo districts.

They add that investments will focus on projects to enhance Belize’s archaeological sites including subterranean sites and ancient cities and restore and enhance culture-based attractions in the urban centers of Corozal Town and Punta Gorda Town.

Projects will also focus on the improvement and development of natural attractions including the enhancement of waterfronts and basic infrastructure in Caye Caulker, Corozal Bay and Punta Gorda.

They say that the Sustainable Tourism Project is designed to increase visitor expenditures while improving social inclusion, environmental quality and climate resilience.