Fishing – an Alternative in the Wake of Collapsed Tourism Industry?
The tourism industry has shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic and now domestic tourism is also on hold for the upcoming Easter holidays. It is forecasted that the industry is in for a very long ride. The livelihood of the residents of San Pedro and Caye Caulker has been upended so the two cayes will now have to explore alternative ways to spur economic activity. Here is News Five’s Duane Moody with a report.
Duane Moody, Reporting
The tourism industry has been shattered by the advent of COVID-19. From as early as mid-February, cancelations had been fast and furious across the country as travel bans were imposed and those on vacation in Belize, cut their trip short and returned to their respective countries. Feeling the direct impact from the onset of the pandemic were the island destinations of Caye Caulker and San Pedro. Belize Rural South area representative and Minister of Tourism, Manuel Heredia Junior says that the industry which contributed about forty percent revenue to the country’s G.D.P. has been shot.
Manuel Heredia Jr., Minister of Tourism
“I already have offers from owners of hotels over here getting together with the Belize Hotel Association, B.T.I.A., B.T.B. and putting up some recommendations as to whenever things start to get a little better, we are already in action. You always have to be prepared; you always have to be on the lookout. I used to say it that as tourism is flourishing, but it is a fragile industry. Hurricane, epidemic or whatever; today you this epidemic that we have. We don’t know how long, but I personally believe that this season is over. We will probably start to see the light in the next six, seven months and everybody needs to do its share to make sure that we can overcome this crisis.”
But prior to tourism, fishing was the lifeblood of Caye Caulker and San Pedro residents; in fact, a large number of persons still thrive off that industry. Data shows that there are approximately two thousand, seven hundred registered fisher folks in Belize; that the fishing sector provides jobs for more than fifteen thousand Belizeans and accounts for about three percent of the country’s G.D.P. Minister Heredia contends that as a possible solution, those fishers who became tour guides may need to revert to that livelihood to weather the COVID-19 crisis.
Manuel Heredia Jr.
Manuel Heredia Jr.
“In the good days of the tourism industry, I used to tell my fellow fishermen, don’t dedicate all your eggs into one basket. I said like that. The day will come—as I mentioned the fragile industry—the day will come when one of these things will hit us and what do you do next. But they seem to forget, majority of them seem to forget. And you are right, it might be that a month from now; that is what they will have to do—go back to the number one industry before the tourism industry. Go back to that industry and overcome some of the obstacles that we have.”
Over on Caye Caulker, ninety percent of the economic activity on the island was directly linked to tourism. Chairlady Seleny Villanueva-Pott says that given the inactivity for three weeks now, as a council and working with the residents, fishing is being looked as a viable alternative for income generation.
Seleny Villanueva-Pott
Seleny Villanueva-Pott, Chairlady, Caye Caulker Village
“Some of the fishermen have said outright that this is not the first time that we have seen this. Before tourism, it was strictly fishing and we made it. They say we can resort to fishing. It’s just a phase we would have to readjust to in the old days, but I am sure we will get through it.”
One resounding message coming from the Belize Rural South area representative was that the virus is indiscriminate and affects every and any one—regardless of race, ethnicity, colour or creed.
Manuel Heredia Jr.
“We have to start to learn from this. This is a lesson for us. We have to start to learn to live a different type of life. From now on, I believe that every single Belizean will have to start to live a different kind of life. In the time of plenty, they use to play big life—rich and famous—and when you advise them of the day of crisis might come, they just used to ignore it. Today we are here, it is not late, but we have to change our style of living from now on.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
