PM Barrow supports mass tourism for Belize

In his Independence Day 2009 speech (as is detailed on the government website), PM Barrow stated the following:

“While there has been a 9% hotel drop in our overnight tourism, preliminary bookings for next year’s high season are bouncing back. Meantime cruise arrivals have remained steady and are projected to increase with the plan for a southern Belize cruise itinerary. The 60 million dollar Sustainable Tourism Development Project is in place and physical tourism improvement works in Belize City, San Ignacio, San Pedro and Placencia will commence early 2010. Construction on our second international airport at Riversdale proceeds apace and new high-end resorts have 2010 start up dates.  As well development of the 3000 acres purchased by the Koreans in North Ambergris Caye is imminent. “

The PM certainly sounds like he is promoting mass tourism  and perhaps that explains why he was notably absent at last week’s International Conference on Responsible Tourism held in Belmopan, hosted by his own Ministry of Tourism.  He was listed on the agenda to give a keynote address at the opening ceremonies but he was a no-show.

If Belize’s tourism growth is to be done responsibly, why is the Prime Minister boasting cruise plans for the southern part of Belize?  Shouldn’t we focus on controlling this type of tourism? Instead of expanding it, shouldn’t we be discussing how we can manage the existing traffic we are getting so that our protected areas, cultural sites and other natural features of this country (both marine and terrestrial) are no longer being desecrated and damage by the volumes of people who come to our shores just for a few hours?  If we are to really Be One With Belize shouldn’t PM Barrow speak more about plans to promote the overnight sector that boasts boutique style hotels, trained and qualified local guides and local tour operators, standards and best practices for operators, restaurants and all others involved in an industry that should promote the natural beauty of this country and not one that will cheapen it?  Do we really want cruise tourism to go any further than it has? Don’t we learn from our mistakes?

He unabashedly spoke about a second international airport in Riversdale.  Was the EIA done on this?  Are the conservation groups satisfied that this development is a responsible one for the south? What are the tax and fee implications for locals and foreign visitors since this will now be an international airport? What are the implications for the two local airlines? And by putting in an international airport in the south, what size planes is it expected to accommodate and where is the study that indicates there is demand for a second airport? Is this realistic in a country whose national hotel occupancy has always been lower than 50% and whose overnight arrivals have only reached 280,000 as one of its highest levels?  The reality is that the Philip Goldson International Airport is underutilized for the majority of the day.

Then PM Barrow further comments on “high-end resorts with 2010 start up dates”.  When is the last time our Prime Minister conducted a tour of the country? Construction is practically at a standstill and evidence of any development that does exist is mostly condos and villas, so either time share or second homes (and most likely not for Belizeans).  So, is this the type of “hotel development” he is promoting for Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret?

The Prime Minister also spoke on the 3000 acre development by the Koreans that is imminent for North Ambergris Caye.  How far north – Bacalar Chico National Park?  Development of 3000 acres is surely not low scale development.  With South Beach development, road to Mexico, mangrove clearing and crime to name just a few, San Pedro is in for a rude awakening in the coming years with the quality of its product.

One thing is for sure, with these tourism plans PM Barrow unveiled in September of this year, there won’t be any more secret to the Jewel and there will be nothing to Be One With.  Buckle up Belize we will be in for a bumpy ride on PM Barrow’s tourism train!!!

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