Tourism in Belize

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The Great Blue Hole is a prime ecotourism destination. A World Heritage Site, ranked among the top 10 nominees for the world's New 7 Wonders of Nature. Great Blue Hole.jpg
The Great Blue Hole is a prime ecotourism destination. A World Heritage Site, ranked among the top 10 nominees for the world's New 7 Wonders of Nature.
Thousand Foot Falls actually stand at about 1,600 feet high. It is the highest waterfall in Central America. 1,000 ft. Falls.png
Thousand Foot Falls actually stand at about 1,600 feet high. It is the highest waterfall in Central America.

Tourism in Belize has grown considerably recently,[ when? ] and it is now the second largest industry in the nation. Belizean Prime Minister Dean Barrow has stated his intention to use tourism to combat poverty throughout the country. [3] The growth in tourism has positively affected the agricultural, commercial, and finance industries, as well as the construction industry. The results for Belize's tourism-driven economy have been significant, with the nation welcoming almost one million tourists in a calendar year for the first time in its history in 2012. [4]

Contents

History

Prior to its independence in 1981, Belize was not regarded as a tourist destination due to an inadequate infrastructure. However, rapid expansion of the tourist industry over the last decade[ when? ] has made it the nation's second largest industry.

Tourism: Belize has large array of diverse tourists, adventure tourists and eco-tourist attractions. The Belize Barrier Reef (second largest in the world), over 450 offshore Cayes (islands), excellent fishing, safe waters for windsurfing, swimming, cave rafting, boating, paddleboarding, scuba diving, and snorkelling, numerous rivers for rafting, and kayaking, various jungle and wildlife reserves of fauna and flora, for hiking, bird watching, and helicopter touring, as well as many Maya ruins—support the thriving tourism and ecotourism industry. Of the hundreds of cave systems, Belize also holds the largest cave system in Central America, 544 species of birds, and well-preserved natural beauty. Despite all this, it is still among the least visited countries in the region. [5]

Development costs are high, but the Government of Belize has designated tourism as its second development priority after agriculture. In 2012, tourist arrivals totalled 917,869 (with about 584,683 from the U.S.) and tourist receipts amounted to over $1.3 billion. [4]

Tourism is the domain of the Ministry of Tourism, within which the Belize Tourism Board works as a link between the private and public sector. [6]

The tourism industry is an important part of the economy of Belize, in 2007 contributing to over 25% of all jobs, and making up over 18% of the GDP. [7] This constituted 590 million BZD (295 million USD), according to the Belize government, up 90 million BZD (45 million USD) from the year before. [7] Important tourist attractions in Belize include the natural attractions of land and sea, making the areas important in Ecotourism, as well as the historic ruins of Belize's Pre-Columbian Maya civilization.

Popular tourist destinations include San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker, both located about 70 km and 40 km east off the coast of Belize, both situation only a few miles from the Barrier Reef at any point. They have been regarded as a "tropical paradises" by the Los Angeles Times . [8] Cruise ships have been docking in Belize City, and average 850,000 tourists alone every year, some who partake in tours to nearby districts as well as the colonial city. [9]

Almond Beach, Hopkins Almond Beach, Hopkins, Stann Creek, Belize.jpg
Almond Beach, Hopkins
Maya Beach, Placencia Beach front at Placencia, Belize.jpg
Maya Beach, Placencia
Half Moon Caye BZECAYE.jpg
Half Moon Caye

Mainland beaches

Rural and community-based tourism

Many privately run companies have cooperatives in Southern Belize that manage a rural and community-based tourism project, which has been developed with support from the UNESCO. Tourism allows otherwise marginalized minorities such as the Maya and the Garifuna people to receive new opportunities in alternative markets, harvest crops, preserve and involve foreigners in their culture and diversify their income. [10] Many companies offer visitors the opportunity to visit a cacao, cashew farm, learn about Maya, Kriol or Garifuna craftsmanship, and even to stay overnight on a Maya, Kriol or Garifuna village and explore with a community guide.

Ecological tourism

Biodiversity is an asset for ecotourism. A red-lored amazon Amazona autumnalis -upper body-8a.jpg
Biodiversity is an asset for ecotourism. A red-lored amazon

Eco-tourism aims to be ecologically and socially conscious, it focuses on local culture, wilderness, and adventure. Belize's eco-tourism is growing with every passing year, [11] it boasts a number of eco-tourist tours and energy efficient hotels, with environmentally-conscious and renewable resources. [12] Popular eco-tourism destinations in Belize include the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, [13] Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, [14] Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, [15] and the Community Baboon Sanctuary. [16]

Waterfalls

Archaeological reserves

Overlooking the Caracol ruins, the most extensive archaeological site in the country. Panorama atop Caracol.png
Overlooking the Caracol ruins, the most extensive archaeological site in the country.

Before the arrival of Europeans in America, Belize lay in the heartland of the Maya civilisation, and consequently contains some of the earliest and most important Maya ruins. [18] Archaeological findings at Caracol, in the southern end of the country, have suggested that it formed the centre of political struggles in the southern Maya lowlands. [18] The complex covered an area much larger than present-day Belize City and supported more than twice the modern city's population. [17] Meanwhile, Lamanai, in the north, is known for being the longest continually-occupied site in Mesoamerica, settled during the early Preclassic era and continuously occupied up to and during the area's colonisation. [18]

While the majority of reserves under this category are related to the pre-colonial era, Serpon Sugar Mill and Yarborough Cemetery, both designated in 2009, only date from the 19th century and are alternatively described as historical reserves. [19]

The country's 15 archaeological sites are managed by the Institute of Archaeology, a branch of the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), [20] which comes under the authority of the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture. [21] This type of protected area was gazetted under the Ancient Monuments and Antiquities Act, 1 May 1972. [20] [22] All of the following reserves are open to the public. Many other sites, such as Cuello and Uxbenka, are located on private land and can only be visited if prior permission is obtained from the landowner. [18]

List of Maya ruins in Belize

Main natural attractions

Roughly 26% (2.6 million acres, or 1.22 million hectares) of Belizean land and sea is preserved within a total of 95 reserves, which vary in their purpose and level of protection. [23] [24] This network of protected areas exists under a variety of management structures: [25]

National parks

St. Herman's Cave in St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park. St Hermans Cave Belize.jpg
St. Herman's Cave in St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park.

In Belize, national parks are areas designed for the protection and preservation of natural and aesthetic features of national significance for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. Therefore, they are areas of recreation and tourism, as well as environmental protection. National parks are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981. [26] They are administered by the Forest Department and managed through partnership agreements with community-based non-governmental organisations.

List of national parks
ReserveDistrictSize
(ha)		Size
(acres)		 IUCN Co-managementEst.Description
Aguas Turbias Orange Walk 3,5418,750II— [note 1] 1994 [27]
Bacalar Chico Belize 4,51011,100VGreen Reef Environmental Institute [note 2] 1996Excludes adjacent marine reserve. [28] [29]
Billy Barquedier Stann Creek 6631,640IISteadfast Tourism and Conservation Association2001 [30]
Chiquibul Cayo 106,839264,000IIFriends for Conservation and Development1995Excludes adjacent forest reserve. [31] [32]
Five Blues Lake Cayo 1,6434,060IIFriends of Five Blues Lake National Park1994 [33]
Gra Gra Lagoon Stann Creek 5341,320IIFriends of Gra Gra Lagoon2002 [34]
Guanacaste Cayo 2357II Belize Audubon Society 1994 [35] [36]
Honey Camp Corozal / Orange Walk 3,1457,770IIAssociation of Friends of Freshwater Creek [note 3] 2001 [37]
Laughing Bird Caye Stann Creek 4,09510,120IISouthern Environmental Association1996 [38] [39]
Mayflower Bocawina Stann Creek 2,8687,090IIFriends of Mayflower Bocawina National Park2001 [40] [41]
Monkey Bay Belize 8592,120IIGuardians of the Jewel [note 2] 1994 [42] [43]
Nojkaaxmeen Elijio Panti Cayo 5,13012,700IIBelize Development Foundation [note 4] 2001 [44] [45] [46]
Payne's Creek Toledo 14,73936,420IIToledo Institute for Development and Environment1994 [47] [48]
Peccary Hills Belize 4,26010,500IIGracie Rock Reserve for Adventure, Culture and Ecotourism2007 [49] [50]
Río Blanco Toledo 3894IIRío Blanco Mayan Association1994 [51]
Sarstoon-Temash Toledo 16,93841,850II Sarstoon Temash Institute for Indigenous Management 1994 Ramsar site. [52] [53]
St. Herman's Blue Hole Stann Creek 269660IIBelize Audubon Society1986 [54] [55]

Natural monuments

A natural monument is designated for the preservation of unique geographic features of the landscape. The designation is primarily based on a feature's high scenic value, but may also be regarded as a cultural landmark that represents or contributes to a national identity.

Natural monuments are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981; [26] marine-based monuments additionally come under the Fisheries Act. Of the five natural monuments in the country, three are terrestrial, administered by the Forest Department, while the remaining two are marine-based and come under the authority of the Fisheries Department.

List of natural monuments
ImageReserveDistrictSize
(ha)		Size
(acres)		 IUCN Co-managementEst.Description
Actun tunichil muknal-pottery.jpg Actun Tunichil Muknal Cayo 185460Ia Belize Audubon Society; Institute of Archaeology2004Terrestrial. [56] [57]
Blue Hole coral.jpg Blue Hole Belize 4141,020IIIBelize Audubon Society1996Marine. [58] [59] [60]
BZECAYE.jpg Half Moon Caye Belize 3,9549,770IIBelize Audubon Society1982Marine. [61] [62]
1,000 foot water fall at Mountain Pine Ridge in Belize.jpg Thousand Foot Falls Cayo 5221,290III— [note 5] 2004Terrestrial. [63]
Victoria-peak-2.jpg Victoria Peak Stann Creek 1,9594,840IIIBelize Audubon Society1998Terrestrial. [64] [65]

Nature reserves

Wilderness scene in the Bladen Nature Reserve. Looking towards the Maya Mountains from the fire watchtower.jpg
Wilderness scene in the Bladen Nature Reserve.

The country's three nature reserves enjoy the highest level of protection within the national protected areas system. The designation was created for the strict protection of biological communities or ecosystems, and the maintenance of natural processes in an undisturbed state. They are typically pristine, wilderness ecosystems.

Nature reserves are legislated under the National Parks System Act of 1981. [26] It is the strictest designation of all categories within the country's national protected areas system, with no extractive use or tourism access permitted. Permits are required to enter the area and are restricted to researchers only. The nature reserves are under the authority of the Forest Department.

The oldest of these, Bladen Nature Reserve, forms the centrepiece of the Maya Mountains biological corridor, and is considered one of the most biodiversity-rich, and topographically unique areas within the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot.

List of nature reserves
ReserveDistrictSize
(ha)		Size
(acres)		 IUCN Co-managementEst.Description
Bladen Toledo 40,41199,860IaYa’axché Conservation Trust; Bladen Management Consortium1990 [66] [67]
Burdon Canal Belize 2,1265,250Ia— [note 6] 1992 [68]
Tapir Mountain Cayo 2,5506,300Ia Belize Audubon Society 1994Formerly known as Society Hall Nature Reserve. [69] [70]

Wildlife sanctuaries

Wildlife sanctuaries are created for the preservation of an important keystone species in the ecosystem. By preserving enough area for them to live in, many other species receive the protection they need as well.

Wildlife sanctuaries are gazetted under the National Parks System Act of 1981, and are the responsibility of the Forest Department. [26] There are currently seven wildlife sanctuaries, three of which are being managed under co-management partnerships, whilst the other four are managed under informal arrangements. Two of the following wildlife sanctuaries are considered to be marine protected areas, and may also have collaborative agreements with the Fisheries Department in place.

List of wildlife sanctuaries
ReserveDistrictSize
(ha)		Size
(acres)		 IUCN Co-managementEst.Description
Aguacaliente Toledo 2,2135,470IVAguacaliente Management Team [note 2] 1998Terrestrial. [71] [72]
Cockscomb Basin Stann Creek / Toledo 49,477122,260IV Belize Audubon Society 1997Terrestrial. [73]
Corozal Bay Belize / Corozal 73,049180,510IVSarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development [note 2] 1998Marine. [74] [75]
Crooked Tree Belize / Orange Walk 15,37237,990IVBelize Audubon Society1984 Ramsar site. Boundaries ill defined. Terrestrial. [76]
Gales Point Belize 3,6819,100IVGales Point Wildlife Sanctuary Community Management Committee [note 2] 1998Terrestrial. [77] [78]
Spanish Creek Belize / Orange Walk 2,4286,000IVRancho Dolores Development Group [note 2] 2002Terrestrial. [79]
Swallow Caye Belize 3,6318,970IVFriends of Swallow Caye2002Marine. [80] [81]

Forest reserves

Big Rock Falls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. BigRockFalls.jpg
Big Rock Falls in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.

Forest reserves, overseen by the Forest Department, are designed for the sustainable extraction of timber without destroying the biodiversity of the location. These are gazetted under the Forests Act of 1927, [82] which allows the department to grant permits to logging companies after extensive review. There are currently 16 forest reserves with a combined acreage of 380,328 hectares (939,810 acres), making up 9.3% of total national territory. [20]

List of forest reserves
ReserveDistrictSize
(ha)		Size
(acres)		 IUCN Est.Description
Caye Caulker Belize 3894VI1998Excludes adjacent marine reserve. [83]
Chiquibul Cayo 59,822147,820VI1995Excludes adjacent national park. [84]
Columbia River Cayo / Toledo 60,016148,300VI1997 [85]
Deep River Toledo 27,23267,290VI [86]
Fresh Water Creek Corozal / Orange Walk 13,51333,390VI1926 [87]
Grants Work Stann Creek 3,1997,900VI1989 [88]
Machaca Toledo 1,2533,100VI1998 [89]
Manatee Belize / Stann Creek 36,62190,490VI1959 [90]
Mango Creek Stann Creek / Toledo 12,09029,900VI1989Comprises two separate segments. [91] [92]
Monkey Caye Toledo 6691,650VI1996 [93]
Mountain Pine Ridge Cayo 43,372107,170VI1944 [94] [95]
Maya Mountain Stann Creek 16,88741,730VI1997 [96]
Sibun Cayo 32,84981,170VI1959 [97] [95]
Sittee River Stann Creek 37,36092,300VI [98]
Swasey Bladen Toledo 5,98014,800VI1989 [99]
Vaca Cayo 14,11834,890VI1991 [100]

Marine reserves

Coral patch in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Holchan2.png
Coral patch in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

Marine reserves are designed for the conservation of aquatic ecosystems, including marine wildlife and its environment. The majority of these reserves contribute to the conservation of Belize's Barrier Reef, which provides a protective shelter for pristine atolls, seagrass meadows and rich marine life. The preservation of the Barrier Reef system has been recognised as a global interest through the collective designation of seven protected areas, including four of the following marine reserves, as a World Heritage Site.

Marine reserves are legislated under the Fisheries Act, and are administered by the Fisheries Department. One of the department's key responsibilities is to ensure the sustainable extraction of marine resources. There are currently eight marine reserves, management of which is either direct, by the department, or in partnership with non-governmental agencies.

List of marine reserves
ReserveDistrictSize
(ha)		Size
(acres)		 IUCN Co-managementEst.Description
Bacalar Chico Belize 6,39115,790IVGreen Reef Environmental Institute [note 2] 1996Excludes adjacent national park. Divided into two zones: a conservation zone, [101] and a general use zone. [102] [29]
Caye Caulker Belize 3,9139,670VIForest & Marine Reserves Association of Caye Caulker1998Excludes adjacent forest reserve. [103]
Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Stann Creek 10,51425,980IVSouthern Environmental Association2000Divided into two zones: a general use zone, [104] and a conservation zone. [105] [106] [107]
Glover's Reef Belize 86,653214,120IV—1993In 2001, the reserve was divided into four zones: a general use zone, [108] a conservation zone, [109] a seasonal closure zone, [110] and a wilderness zone. [111] A spawning aggregation zone was broken off in 2003 and comes under separate management (see below).
Hol Chan Belize 1,4443,570IIHol Chan Trust Fund1987Divided into four zones: Mangrove, [112] Seagrass, [113] Shark Ray Alley, [114] and Coral Reef. [115] [116]
Port Honduras Toledo 40,470100,000IVToledo Institute for Development and Environment2000Divided into two zones: a general use zone, [117] and a conservation zone. [118]
Sapodilla Cayes Toledo 15,61838,590IVSouthern Environmental Association1996 [119]
South Water Caye Stann Creek 47,702117,870IV—1996 [120] [121]

Attractions by district

See also

Notes

    1. ↑ There is no current co-management partner, nor on-site presence, though the area has been included in past conservation planning under Programme for Belize.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prospective co-management organisation. No formal co-management agreements are currently being made, but these organisations have informal co-management authority.
    3. ↑ No longer active.
    4. ↑ Until 2010, co-management was held by the Itzamna Society.
    5. ↑ Managed directly by the Forest Department as part of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.
    6. ↑ Currently has no co-management partner and is managed directly by the Forest Department, though with no on-site presence. It is considered a paper park.

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    14. ↑ "Mountain Pine Ridge - Hun Chi'ik Tours - Project Expedition". Project Expedition. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
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    19. ↑ Institute of Archaeology 2011 , Serpon Sugar Mill
    20. 1 2 3 Meerman J.C. (August 2005). "Protected Area Categories". National Protected Area System Analysis.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
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    25. ↑ Biodiversity & Environmental Resource Data System. "Protected Areas". Belize Tropical Forest Studies. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
    26. 1 2 3 4 The Laws of Belize 2000 , Chpt. 215
    27. ↑ Belize Tropical Forest Studies 2010, p.  64.
    28. ↑ Belize Tropical Forest Studies 2010, p.  67.
    29. 1 2 Green Reef Environmental Institute. "The World Heritage Site". Greenreef Belize. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
    30. ↑ Belize Tropical Forest Studies 2010, p.  13.
    31. ↑ Belize Tropical Forest Studies 2010, p.  85.
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