Service Sector Sees Significant Growth

The service sector also saw significant growth in 2021, largely due to the re-commencement of cruise ship calls to Belize, as well as a spike in overnight tourism. All this is the result of a phased reopening of the economy.

Prime Minister John Briceño

Prime Minister John Briceño

“The services sector grew by ten point one percent, reversing a devastating negative growth of twenty point two percent in 2020. This spectacular outcome was because of the recovery in the overnight tourism, following the reopening of the Phillip Goldson International Airport in mid 2020. Stay over arrival increased by fifty eight point nine percent in 2021, generating positive spinoff effects in the tourism and travel related sub-sectors. Cruise line industries started in July 2021, and remember when UDP was criticizing us, honorable member form Pickstock that we the bring in COVID, led to two hundred thousand cruise passengers coming assure to visit our destination, and I must thank our Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler and his team at BTB and the Ministry for doing a spectacular job. When the naysayers said we couldn’t get it done, Minister Mahler and his team rolled up their sleeves, and never start to cry, unu start to work and got the job done.”

Government services declined by fourteen percent, while the unemployment rate fell to nine point two percent.