Tourism & Leisure

The Belize tourism industry has demonstrated success and commitment to maintain the authenticity of its attractions fostering an attractive platform for investors looking to cater to the growing number of experience-based tourists. Belize’s excellent natural resources and strong cultural heritage allows for eco-tourism, adventure, and cultural tourism to flourish as its main tourism motivations. Secondary tourism motivations range from nautical, cruise, leisure & entertainment.

A National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan for Belize 2030 (NSTMP) was completed in 2011. The master plan sets the guidelines for tourism sector development incorporating government reforms that will translate sustainability objectives into actions as well as public and private investments.

In 2022, overnight tourist arrivals were 372,614 which was a significant increase from 218,991 in 2021. The United States of America continues to be the dominant origin of visitors followed by Europe and Canada. Overnight tourist arrivals will continue to increase with expansion of routes and new airlines such as Jet Blue commencing December 2023. Airport arrivals accounted for most of the overnight arrivals at 300,280 in 2022. (Source: Belize Tourism Board)

 According to the National Tourism Master Plan for Belize (2030), enhanced overnight destinations would result in doubling overnight tourism arrivals reaching approximately 556,000 arrivals a year with an average length of stay of 10.6 days and spending USD $213 a day generating approximately 6 million overnight stays in tourism facilities by 2030. (Source: NTSMP 2011)

In 2022, Cruise Passenger Arrivals were 615,021 showing improvement and getting back to pre-covid figures of over one million arrivals. According to the National Tourism Master Plan for Belize (2030) cruise tourism development is expected to level at an average compound growth rate of 3.8% in the same 20-year horizon to reach over 1.5 million cruise passenger visits per season. (Source: NTSMP 2011)

 Competitive Advantages:

    • Investor friendly climate
    • Bilingual (English, Spanish)
    • Abundance of pristine natural resources
    • Ideal geographic location with access to major international hubs
    • Well trained and productive labour force
    • Sub-Tropical climate all year round
    • Modern banking and telecommunication systems
    • Tailored Fiscal Incentive Programs

 Investment Opportunities

Investment opportunities include, but are not limited to:

    • Nature-Based – ecotourism and adventure tourism systems of themed natural and man- made nature-based concepts structured into integrated recreational ecotourism and adventure sites and centers as well as trail and national caving trail systems.
    • Branded resort and hotel development: within the luxury and pristine themes
    • Cruise– facilities for conventional and pocket cruise tourism with commercial centers and amenities
    • Leisure and Entertainment – facilities for shopping, restaurants, cafes, bars and attractive facilities and entertainment centers.
    • Nautical– structures for a system of marinas, ports and services aimed at attracting tourists journeying in vessels (yachts, sail boats, and charter boats).
    • Cultural – development of centers or museums elaborating the history, heritage and living cultures of Belize encapsulating the tourism experience.

Other areas of Investment Opportunities:

    • Medical Tourism
    • Air Transport
    • Auto-Rental
    • Tourism related activities
    • Orange Economy

MEDICAL TOURISM

It has been recognized that there exists a growing trend of healthcare delivery being offered in host countries and there is a positive impact when a tourism element is packed with such health services.

The growing trend, therefore, is one in which the health – related service sector has become closely associated with the diversification of tourism offerings. Individuals are increasingly seeking medical services in foreign countries due to the mounting cost of health care globally, prevalence and mutation of chronic diseases, quality healthcare satisfactions and high waiting times in home countries.

The development of a Medical Tourism industry in Belize is consistent with both the Long-Term National Development Framework for Belize – HORIZON 2030, and the National Sustainable Master Plan for Belize 2030.

 Competitive Advantages:

    • Geographic location with proximity to the US
    • Ideal geographic location with access to major international hubs
    • Belize is a renowned natural tourism destination
    • Cruise ship passengers and crew as well as a couple of committed medical tourism facilitators have allowed Belize to build some kind of experience in dental tourism.
    • Many accessible flights

 Investment Opportunities
 This vision has opened the market for various opportunities of investment. Some areas that exhibit great potential are as follows:

    • Academic schools: medical and tourism related training
    • Healthcare: hospital and clinics complying with international standards
    • Investment Projects: intensive care units, transportation, ambulatory services, laboratories
    • Tourism: small boutique hotels, tour operators
    • Wellness: non-invasive procedures that includes spas (facials, massages, beauty treatments), medical spas (invasive procedures), physical fitness, healthy nutrition, relaxation, meditation, mental activity, rehabilitation centers
    • Supporting Services: insurance, equipment maintenance, suppliers, biomedical technician, etc.
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