The Effectiveness of a Short-term Sargassum Solution

In October, the Belize Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism revealed their plan to address the massive influx of sargassum in four tourism destinations in Belize. Beaches in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia and Hopkins have been invaded by the brown, foul and invasive macro-algae. The Government located one and half million dollars to fight off the sargassum invasion with short-term solutions for both cleanup and containment of the sargassum in preparation for the high season. Tourism Minister Manuel Heredia Junior provided an update.

Manuel Heredia Jr.

Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism 

“At this point practically I believe more than eighty percent; I was in San Pedro yesterday evening and there is a thin line only of sargassum over there. People that were around Placencia tell me that it is controllable at this point and the setting up of the booms I believe that it will be very minimal. Whatever the ministry and B.T.B. can do to help them, we will.” 

Hipolito Novelo

“Has the tourism industry has suffered loss?”

Manuel Heredia Jr.

“The tourism industry is happy with what we are doing. I mentioned that there is a good working relationship and so long as numbers are increasing and we work together the industry will be happy. We will be happy and that is the way we operate.”