BTIA Host 38th Annual General Meeting
Today the Belize Tourism Industry Association hosted its thirtieth annual general meeting. This meeting is where stakeholders convene to review the sector’s accomplishments, shortcomings of the last year, as well the goals for the year moving forward. This year’s meeting reflected on the success of the sector’s remarkable post-pandemic recovery and the association optimistic expectations for the upcoming season to come. This year’s meeting carried the theme “Tourism means business”. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended to hear the discussion. Here’s the report.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
The tourism industry has undergone immense changes within the past four years. Ranging from the damage inflicted from the COVID-19 pandemic to Belize’s astounding post-pandemic recovery. The BTIA’s annual meeting reflected on these changes and commends the industry for its resilience throughout the two-year standstill. Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler spoke on these achievements.
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations
“In 2023, we saw a return of 93 percent of the overnight arrivals Compared to 2019. We are now very close to pre pandemic levels and our resilient tourism industry has survived these challenging years. It is easy to forget now that things are buzzing these days, that we came from a literal standstill almost four years ago. It must be noted that there were some months in 2023 that matched or exceeded that of 2019 and January 2024 is already off to a strong start, signaling that this should be a bumper year… The idea is not only to meet the 100 percent recovery threshold, but to surpass it and that is our commitment as a team. In cruise, we also saw a strong rebound in arrival, as we received just over 900,000 cruise visitors in 2023 and hosted 309 cruise ship calls. We expect to move closer towards pre-pandemic arrival figures in 2024, as all major cruise lines have resumed calls to Belize and new cruise lines continue to express interest in our jewel.”
The meeting was attended by members of the BTIA, which included restaurant and store owners, hotel operators, and other stakeholders. Prime Minister John Briceño was also in attendance and spoke on the necessary action needed to maintain the industries upward projection.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Last year the Caribbean was the highest performing region globally, with economic growth at 9.8 percent while in 2024 this is expected to decrease to 8.3 percent. The Caribbean region is still projected top have the healthiest growth this year. This is good news, but it does little to address the real and alarming fact that our region remains one of the most vulnerable, especially to climate change. Rising sea levels, catastrophic flooding, heat waves, wildfires and more severe tropical storms are all very destructive and can set our development back for decades. More than ever we must make addressing climate change a priority for the long-term viability of our country and all of you in this sector have a role to play in this process, beginning with assuring that this sector meets its targets. The opportunities for Belize to grow its tourism product remains at am all time high as travel and tourism continues to outpace the recovery of other industries globally.”
Executive Director of Silk Grass Farms, Dr. Henry Canton raised concerns with the industry such as the trickledown effect it carries on several other industries. Doctor Canton stressed that the impact tourism has on the agriculture industry needs to be considered moving forward.
Henry Canton
Dr. Henry Canton, Executive Director, Silk Grass Farms
“You all would be surprised how much of agriculture has actually adapted to tourism and I think it’s unfair sometimes when the conservationist get up and batter us and beat us for clearing the forest… most of us are putting aside fifteen, twenty acres for water rights, most of are going to regenerative agriculture, most of us are trying to do the things that are right so that we can have a story for you to better sell the products and pass on higher prices so that you can get to the fifty dollars a plate of food as opposed to forty and we are in that process but we need tourism to recognize that because we have recognized the importance of tourism… Today I’m saying you forced me to have adapted what you require and we’ve spent horrendous amounts of money to put into place what is going to take to give you what you need to make me successful. And when I am successful, all the other farmers, smaller farmers that are around me will also be successful because that’s how it works in Belize.”
The Association affirms that 2024 promises a robust year for the tourism Industry and with the cooperation of private sector and governing agents, Belize will witness a full come back in the industry, as well as the improvement of adjacent industries. Britney Gordon for News Five.
