Introduction to Tourism

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) has a long history of guiding and enabling the development of sustainable tourism in Belize. As tourism becomes an increasingly important part of Belize’s economy, the BTB has a primary role to play in maintaining the nation’s competitiveness in the global and regional tourism marketplace. Over the past 20 years, the tourism industry has been a dynamic engine for job creation and professional development for many Belizeans. It is a key for foreign investment and is an important source of tax revenues that help to finance the nation’s infrastructure.

The importance of the tourism industry in Belize and has approved a 13.3 million dollar loan to support the Sustainable Tourism Program (STP) through the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture. The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is an executing agency for these funds. The goal of the Sustainable Tourism Program is to contribute to national economic growth that is environmentally and socially responsible, supporting overnight destinations and national capacity for destination planning and management.

To prepare this Action Plan, BTB contracted an outside group of consultants to advice on the 2010-2012 Action Plan. An intensive consultation process in June and July of 2010 to develop a plan that is responsive to the BTB and a wide array of stakeholders. More than 50 tourism sector leaders and organizations participated in the action plan development process. Consultants specializing in Internal Management Systems, Quality Assurance, Marketing, and Destination Planning worked closely with the BTB staff to design the recommendations here, and fully vetted the plan with the BTB Board of Directors and via a national stakeholder meeting.

The Action Plan calls for bold change, it relies on the strengths of the BTB - using its existing management capacity, well-trained team members and ability to build upon pre-existing partnerships with the private sector and its trade associations. It...