Safeguarding Belize’s Cruise Tourism Sector

But, with tourism on a rise, that means that the ministry needs to amp up the reach of the country’s tourism product. One of the primary contributors to revenue generation in this sector is cruise tourism. Recently, major cruise lines have raised concerns about the lack of berthing facilities at the Fort Street Tourism Village cruise terminal in Belize City. The docking facilities at the Fort Street Tourism Village do not offer berthing facilities which means larger ships that cruise lines are now using cannot be accommodated. Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler, says GOB has been liaising with operators of smaller boats to safeguard the future of cruise tourism.

Hon.Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations: “Well we’ve had that discussion and we have that understanding that the ships are much larger and they have a problem tendering for those sizes of ships and so you have Stakebank being built and then you have other developments on the table and so it’s going to take some time. I believe with Stakebank coming on board soon that we will be able to keep the number up but it’s how you manage it.”

Reporter: So right now that’s not really a concern for the ministry ? 

Hon.Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations: “Well it’s always a concern but it’s how you control the numbers right and what we’ve done is we have reached out to smaller cruise lines and bigger yachts to be able to come to Belize as well.”