Tourist arrivals up again in May

While filling hotels during the winter months of December, January, February
and March has never been a major problem for Belizean tourism operators,
the other eight months of the year have traditionally been the industry’s
downfall. But figures released today indicate that those familiar patterns
may be changing. Tourist arrivals for May at the Philip Goldson International
Airport jumped a whopping seven point nine percent over a year earlier,
setting a new record for the month. Eleven thousand, eight hundred and
thirty-two bonafide tourists touched down at the airport, which is the
main port of entry for visiting vacationers. There had been some concern,
as April arrivals at the P.G.I.A., were just slightly ahead of April 2000.
But the jump in May has put the year-to-date arrivals up a solid one point
seven percent over 2000, which was itself the best year yet for Belizean
tourism. Another indication of strong off-season demand is the decision
by American Airlines to put a Boeing 757 into service on its Miami run.
The new jet, which can seat a hundred and seventy-eight passengers, as
opposed to one hundred and thirty-eight in the aging 727, will go into
service on July second.