Belize Tourism Board

The community of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, and many across Belize were saddened on March 7th with the passing of island icon, entrepreneur, and tourism pioneer Celi Nuñez McCorkle at the age of 87. Referred to as the “Mother of Tourism,” McCorkle was recognized for opening the island’s first guesthouse, the Holiday Hotel, in 1965, which continues operating today. Her legacy and love for the island not only helped pave the way for San Pedro to become Belize’s premier tourism destination but also contributed significantly to the development of education on Ambergris Caye. Her influence will be remembered for generations to come.

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB), through its Elevate Training Institute, hosted a Culinary Certification Ceremony on Monday, February 9, 2026, to recognize 13 Belizean chefs who earned professional culinary certifications from the American Culinary Federation (ACF). The ceremony was held at 9:30AM in the Coral Room at the Grand Resort & Residences in Belize City. It marked a major step toward strengthening Belize’s culinary sector and tourism product.

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) officially opened the new Artisan Market in San Pedro Town on Thursday, February 5, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at 11AM on Nurse Shark Street. The event featured a short program led by master of ceremonies Rene Guzman, San Pedro Town Council Administrator.

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) released preliminary tourism figures on February 2nd, indicating continued growth in both overnight and cruise arrivals for 2025. According to the BTB, overnight arrivals are projected at 551,698 for 2025, reflecting a 0.8% increase over 2024’s total of 547,370 and a 9.6% rise compared to pre-pandemic 2019 figures of 503,166. Cruise tourism also showed strong performance, with passenger arrivals reaching 967,214, an 8.1% increase over 2024’s 894,405. However, cruise numbers remain 17.4% below the 2019 high of 1,170,558.

A nationwide consultation exercise to identify climate adaptation priorities concluded in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, on January 29th. The final session, which covered the Belize District, supported the development of Belize’s Multi-sectoral National Adaptation Plan (MNAP). The consultations were led by the National Climate Change Office (NCCO) under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, in partnership with consulting firm Metroeconomica, which facilitated the stakeholder sessions.

Tour operators, restaurant owners, and hoteliers in San Pedro are reporting a noticeable slowdown in tourism during the first week of January 2026, following the traditionally busy Christmas and New Year’s holiday period. Local businesses describe quieter streets and lower-than-expected bookings during what is typically considered peak tourism season.

The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) hosted its first 2026 destination consultation meeting in San Pedro on January 9th. The sessions, led by BTIA President Efren Perez and Executive Director Linette Canto, marked the start of the association’s national engagement process ahead of its 2026 National Strategic Plan.

As the new year begins, the Belize Tourism Board, alongside Area Representative for Belize Rural South, Andre Perez, has completed construction of a new modern artisan market facility at the El Embarcadero site on Nurse Shark Street in downtown San Pedro. The new, weather-resistant structure is designed to accommodate ten vendors and meets all required safety and accessibility standards. Despite the facility’s completion, no official move-in date has been announced, as authorities continue to finalize logistics and operational directives. Meanwhile, preliminary proposals have surfaced for the future use of the current artisan market site, including potential redevelopment beyond the initially rumored conversion to a parking lot.