Belize’s tourism industry is heading into the final quarter of the year, ahead of the traditional high season. The Ministry of Tourism has acknowledged a decrease in overnight arrivals over the past three months. Still, it expects the industry to rebound with additional flights scheduled for the upcoming peak travel season and the possibility of a direct flight from Europe to Belize.
Minister of Tourism Honorable Anthony Mahler confirmed on September 15th that tourism arrivals declined between June and August. June reportedly recorded a 5% decrease compared to the same period in 2025. “For the first five months of the year, the numbers were up, but the past three months have been very soft, especially August, I believe,” he said. “We are going to be okay heading into the last quarter of the year with the new flights coming in.”
Mahler said six new flights are scheduled and that his ministry looks forward to announcing a potential European flight that the government, including Prime Minister Honorable John Briceño, has been working to secure.
Among the new services are flights from BermudAir, which is expected to offer nonstop service to Belize from several United States cities, including Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Raleigh-Durham, and Boston. United Airlines is also expected to increase service from destinations including San Francisco, Chicago, and Denver.
Mahler also highlighted sports tourism’s potential to attract additional visitors, particularly during traditionally slower months. “Tourism globally is about $12 to $13 trillion in revenues, while sports globally is around $2.5 trillion, but sports tourism is about a trillion dollars. As such, we want to push forward in terms of continuing to improve our facilities so we can host more events here in Belize,” Mahler said.
He believes hosting more sporting events during the slower tourism months could attract visitors and boost the economy during the low season.
In San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, the slowdown over the past few months has affected several establishments. Some businesses have temporarily closed during the low season, while others remain open despite fewer visitors. Several beachfront restaurants are currently closed, while businesses in the downtown area have also reported a decline in sales.
One local business owner said they hope conditions will improve in the coming months. “It has been a different season this year. Things are slow, and we are just trying to stay afloat,” the proprietor said. “We hope to see a difference in the upcoming months, and hopefully more tourists visit the island with these new flights scheduled to come to Belize.”
Belize’s traditional high tourism season generally begins around mid-November, with the busiest period extending from December through April.