Four Cruise Terminals is too Much Says B.T.I.A.

With three proposed cruise terminals to be constructed in the same geographic location within the vicinity of Belize City, namely: Port Coral, Port of Magical Belize and Port Loyola Cruise Port, B.T.I.A.  is saying that Belize will not be able to handle the saturation of visitors disembarking on its shores. That says, Burgos, will not be sustainable.

John Burgos, Executive Director, B.T.I.A.

John Burgos

“When it comes to the cruise port part, we have some questions as well.  We already have the Stake Bank Cruise Port being under development.  We have this port that possibly may come under and then we have the Magic Port of Belize Cruise Terminal that has already received an MOU from the government, support from government.  So we have to look at that and that’s the reason why I firstly stated that overnight tourism should be the focus and not cruise tourism.  Belize does not need three cruise ports, we already have one, remember Harvest Caye is one.  So wit these three proposed it would be four.  That is not sustainable.  Our resources, natural resources cannot afford so many visitors and that number of ships.  We certainly cannot afford to have these huge mega cruise ships that are currently under construction.  So I think that having a new administration coming onboard, I think all of these consultations should be placed on pause.  We need to see what is going to be the direction of the blue economy, certainly our marine natural resources, cruise tourism and all of these are related, so we need to know what’s going to be the blue economy strategy for Belize and see where the cruise ports fall into.”

In a response to Oceans V.P. Janelle Chanona, late this evening Prime Minster John Briceño has given assurances that no project has been approved until it has been brought before the cabinet for discussion. P.M. Briceño says “Rest assured that our government will always place the protection of the environment first and foremost.”