Cruise Tourism in Belize: Perceptions of Economic, Social & Environmental Impact Researched and written by CENTER ON ECOTOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CESD Headquarters: Stanford University Office: 1333 H Street, NW 450 Serra Mall Suite 300 East Tower Bldg 360, Rm 362K Washington, DC 20005 Stanford, CA 94305 Tel: 202-347-9203 www.ecotourismcesd.org Tel: 650-723-0894 In collaboration with November, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables......................................................................................... 4 List of Figures ....................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgements .............................................................................. 7 Executive Summary.............................................................................. 9 Foreword.............................................................................................. 15 The Purpose .............................................................................................................15 Methodology .............................................................................................................16 CHAPTERS 1. BACKGROUND................................................................................ 20 Caribbean Cruise Tourism......................................................................................20 Cruise vs. Stayover Tourism in Belize..................................................................21 Tourism Village..................................................................................................26 2. Government Policies and Public Debates .................................... 32 Blackstone Report....................................................................................................32 Cruise Ship Policy, 2000 and 2003.......................................................................33 Carnival Cruise Contract and Cruise Tourism Impact Forum, 2004.........36 Debate at the 2004 Cruise Tourism Impact Forum.....................................38 A Clarification Agreement................................................................................41 White Paper, 2005 ...................................................................................................41 3. Survey Results and Analysis ......................................................... 44 Cruise Passengers...................................................................................................44 Cruise Ship Passenger Surveys.....................................................................44 Results................................................................................................................45 Cruise Vacation Characteristics .....................................................................46 Cruise Tourist In-port Activities.......................................................................48 Tour Expenditures ............................................................................................50 Non-Tour Expenditures....................................................................................53 Factors Influencing Cruise Tourists’ Decision to Disembark in Belize57 Cruise Tourists’ Opinion of Belize..................................................................59 Sensitivity to Changes in Travel Costs...................................................60 Willingness to Support Local Conservation...........................................62 Comparisons of Cruise and Stayover Tourists....................................................64 2003 Airport Survey Results ...........................................................................66 2 4. Interview Results and Analysis .................................................... 73 Belize Government Officials............................................................................74 Port Authorities..................................................................................................74 Local Businesses..............................................................................................74 Stayover Lodges ...............................................................................................75 Farmers and Fishermen ..................................................................................75 Protected Areas & Mayan Archeological Sites ............................................75 Tourism Sector Organizations ........................................................................75 Limitations..........................................................................................................76 Economic Impacts....................................................................................................76 General Tourism ...............................................................................................76 Cruise Tourism..................................................................................................77 “Stayover” Tourists vs. Cruise Tourists..................................................78 The Trickle-down Effect............................................................................81 Socio-Cultural Impacts ............................................................................................82 Environmental Impacts............................................................................................84 Maximum Capacity ...........................................................................................85 Habitats in Danger............................................................................................87 Waste..................................................................................................................91 Concluding Remarks ...............................................................................................92 5. Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................ 94 Conclusions...............................................................................................................94 Recommendations...................................................................................................99 APPENDICES A. About CESD and INCAE……………………………………………..106 B. Cruise Tourist Survey Instrument............................................... 108 C. Natural/Archaeological Destinations Interview Form ............... 113 D. Hotel/ Lodge/Resort Interview Form........................................... 121 E. Business Interview Form ............................................................. 125 F. Farmers/Fishermen Interview Form ............................................ 127 G. Government Officials Interview Form ........................................ 130 H. Port Authorities Interview Form.................................................. 133 I. Tourism Sector Interview Form .................................................... 135 Bibliography ...................................................................................... 139 3 LIST OF TABLES Table page Table A: Comparison of Cruise and Stayover Sectors.......................................14 Table B: Stakeholders Interviewed in Belize.........................................................18 Table 1.1: Stayover and Cruise Ship Arrivals to Belize, 1998 – 2005 .............24 Table 1.2: Monthly Cruise Tourist Visits to Belize, 1998-2005..........................25 Table 1.3a: Leading Cruise Line and Passenger Arrivals into Belize, 2004..26 Table 1.3b: Leading Cruise Line and Passenger Arrivals into Belize, 2005 .26 Table 2.1: Annual Stayover Tourism Arrivals in Central America, 2004........42 Table 2.2: Total Increase in Stayover Tourism, 2000-2004 ................................42 Table 3.1: Cruise tourists in Belize: Demographic information .......................46 Table 3.2: Travel habits of cruise tourists to Belize ............................................47 Table 3.3: General cruise vacation travel expenses, 2005, in US $*** ............48 Table 3.4: Cruise tourist activities and excursions in Belize............................50 Table 3.5: Prices of Tours Sold to Cruise Visitors in Belize by Vendor Type51 Table 3.6a: Amount spent (per person) while off of the ship, in US $ 2005 (excluding tour purchases) – All responses................................................53 Table 3.6b: Amount spent (per person) while off of the ship, in US $ 2005 (excluding tour purchases) – Nonzero responses.....................................54 Table 3.7: Factors contributing to cruise tourists’ decision to disembark in Belize ......................................................................................................................58 Table 3.8: Cruise tourists’ evaluation of their Belizean experience................60 Table 3.9: Maximum increase in total costs per person and still take this cruise ..................................................................................................................................61 Table 3.10: Maximum increase in total costs per person to still disembark in Belize ......................................................................................................................62 Table 3.11: Measures of sensitivity to changes in cruise costs and willingness to pay for conservation in Belize ....................................................................62 4 Table 3.12: Maximum willingness to pay for investment in Belizean culture and nature......................................................................................................................63