Tourism up by land, sea, air

The Minister of Tourism may have changed, but the numbers coming out of the Tourism Board remain the same. According to the B.T.B., figures for the first four months of the year show continued strong growth in both the overnight and cruise sectors of the industry.

Total non-cruise arrivals at all border points from January through April numbered almost ninety-three thousand, up four point one percent over the same period in 2004.

Philip Goldson International Airport, the country’s major port of entry, recorded over seventy-three thousand visitors, a hefty ten point seven percent increase, while the port of Belize City recorded over three hundred and eighty-seven thousand cruise passenger arrivals, a growth of twelve point five percent.

Perhaps even more importantly, the money changing hands continues to grow at a rate even faster than the number of tourists. According to the B.T.B., hotel revenue nationwide reached almost forty-eight million dollars during the first four months of this year, a rise of fourteen point nine percent.