International Science and Technology Institute, Inc. Head Ocr'ers.1129 201H Street
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International Science and Technology Institute, Inc. Head Ocr'ers.1129 201h Street. N.W. A/oshrnglon D C 20036 202/ 735-C8.31 . Te!e. 272785 IST UP FAX: 202/223-3365 BELIZE TOURISM SECTOR ASSESSMENT. PREPARED FOR AGENCY FMR INTERNATIONL DEVELOpMENT ]LAC/PS UNDER CONTRACT WITH INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE, INC. (CONTRACT No. LA6-0619-C-00-7038) BY GORDON HUNT, CONSULTANT, ISTI RICHARD HENRy, CONSULTANT, ISTI TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive summary...................................................... 4 I. Current Environment ............................................... 6 A. Socio Economic ................................................ 6 B. Legislative and Regulatory .................................... 9 II. Infrastructure........................ .......................... 12 A. Transportation Links ......................................... 12 B. Public/Private Services (water, sewers, etc.) ............... 14 C. Accommodations, Entertainment ................................ 14 D. Travel Agencies/Tour Operators ............................... 15 E. Tourism Employment and Training .............................. 16 III. Promotion and Marketing................... .................17 A. Current SituatLon ..........................................17 B. Special Interest Tourism .................................. 18 1. Water-Oriented ......... .............................. 18 2. Natural History .......................... ............... is 3. Hiking/Trekking...................... ....... 19 4. Adventure Tours ............ ...... ... .... ........ 19 C. Archaeology - Driven Tourism ................... ............20 1. Current Developed Sites .................. ................. 20 2. Chart Chich . ... * ... .20 3. Caracol........ .. .. ............................... ..... 4. Ruta Maya ................................................. 21 D. Cruise Ship Tourism.......................................... 22 I-V. Constraints .......................................... *............2 A. Accommodations... .. B.Roadso......... ....................................... .. .. .i..... ....24 C. Tours and Facilities ........................ .................25 D. Tourism/Archaeology Personnel and Budgt ..................... 26 E. Communication and Coordination ............................... 26 F. Licenses, Taxes and Concessions .............................. 27 G. Safety ....................................................... 28 H. Signs ........................................................ 28 I. Handicrafts/Souvenirs ................................. ..... 28 J. Medical Facilities ........................................... 29 K. Custom Clearing Procedures/General Attitudes Conclusions ..... 30 L. Conclusions.................................................. 30 V. Role of USAID.................................................... 32 A. Accommodation.................................................32 B. Promotion/Marketing ..................... .............. .32 C. Infrastructure............................................ 32 D. Environmental ................................................ 33 g. Training.... .............. ............ .................... 33 V. Business Development ....................... o......... ..... 33 G. Specific Tasks ............................................... 34 1. Short Term ................................ .. 34 2. M~dium Term .................... ...... ... ... 35 3. Long Term ................................................ 38 ')ppend~ices A. List of Contracts and Interviewees B. Tourism Statistics C. Caracol Development Effects *D. La Ruta Maya E. Strategies for Women in Tourism Executive Sumary The current administratioi in Belize has for the past four years tourism as its number identified two priority sector for development This shift in government has been a major thinking and has led, if not to substantive yet, to at improvement least a focus on existing as problems. Lacking to alleviate the fina..=ial resources the more obvious constraints on tourism, the rely almost government has had entirely on the private to sector, both domestic and foreign, to develop and expand the tourist t.1,dustry in Belize. The tourism infrastructure in Belize is weak, acccmmodate but Just adequate enough current levels and to types of tourists. Projected and Tiality increases in numbers of tourists, however, will require substantial support facilities. upgrading of tourist External transportation is adequate at present be upgraded easily and could with the expansion of the main airport. transpox.tation, however, Internal will need major improvements grc-.nd transportation, in local air service, road conditions and water trancportation Services to the cayes. such as water and sanitation facilities at primary such as San Pedro destinations need immediate major improvements, ai medical services do power, police and throughout the country. The hotel situation edequate and is currently will remain so in the medium-term, providing new construction a17 the additions and planned are actually completed. There is however, of travel'agencies a definite shortage, and tour operators to handle the needs present tourist arrivals. of Belizees Direct and indirect employment in the tourism totals less than 20% industry of the Belizean workforce, and the level of and experience is the training relatively low by comparison to other countries Given in the region. the current level of tourism and the lack absorb of short-term capacity more, existing efforts to to promote and market destination Belize as a tourist are sufficient. In the long term, however, concer-rate Belize will want on developing a niche to as one of the world's special prominent sites interest tourism including for diving, natural history, hiking/trekking, and 4 adventure tours. In addition, and perhaps of more importance eventually, will be international recognition of Belize as a prime site for Mayan archaeology. For tourism purposes, Belize will offer three levels of Mayan-oriented facilities: the existing sites which have been reconstructed, such as Altun Ha and Laamanai; sites which have been cleared but not rebuilt, such as Chan Chich; and a world-class, ongoing archaeological dig at Caracol. This collection of sites, if properly maintained and marketed, will place Belize in the category of Mexico and Guatemala au an archasological tourist destination. USAID currently supports two projects in Belize which provide direct assistance to tourism in the areas of tourism promotion and archaeological excavation and has provided grant funding for training of private sector tour guides. Given the nature of the tourism sector, virtually all USAID support programs have or will have at least an indirect beneficial effect, whether they support agriculture, infrastructure or balance of payments. From the standpoint of this assessment, however, it is felt that USAID'a efforts to assist tourism developmrgnt should continue to concentrate on support for the private sector through increased training, support to the public sector through promotion of archaeological-driven tourism, and joint assistance and support for water/sewerage improvements in San Pedro. The other needs of the Belizean tourism sector, both public and private, cannot be directly affected by USAID gl.ven current budgetary constraints. They can be addressed, however, in cooperation with the Belizean Government, the local private sector and donor agencies. USAID can and should take a leading role in promoting joint discussions of and collaborations on tourism-related issues. Specific areas for USAID action in the short and medium-term include: - hosting or co-hosting regular meetings of all donor representatives; - support for water/sanitation improvements in San Pedro; - support for a Mayan history conference in Belize) - increased training assistance for the private sector; and - increased support for the Tourism Ministry/Archaeology Department in training, materials and infrastructure. 5 I. CURPRET ENVIRONMENT A. Socioeconomic Znvironment Belize is a small country of 23,000 square kiloniaters and approximately 170,000 inhabitants. The size of the economy mirrors that of the population, with a GNP of US $190 ,millicnand a labor force of 55,000. While not in the dire financtal straits of many of its Central American and Caribbean neighbors, Belize still suffers both a shortfall,of government revenue and a lack of capital for the private sector. Even with its relative underpopulation, the country has an unemployment rate of betwean 15 and 17 percent. The workforce itself is highly literate but unskilled and prone to high turnover rates. While primarily an agricultural country, the current government of Belize has determined tourism to be its number two priority sector for development. The government, in contrast to the previous administration, undtrst.ands the importance of the many socioeconomic benefits accruing from tourism, including: foreign exchange earnings, job creation, contributions to government revenues, .development of domestic industry and the potential beneficial lin:ages to most other sectors of the economy including agriculture, construction, handicrafts banking and services. In its Tourism Policy/Strategy Statement of 1988, the Government stated that its objectives with regard to tourism were to: 1) Increase stay-over visitors with particular emphasis on year round and long-stay visitors; 2) Maximize revenues per visitor; and 3) Maximize tourism net contributions in terms of