Belize Tourism Industry Association

Local non-governmental organizations, tourism partners, and business allies are coming together to celebrate the 14th Annual Reef Week from Saturday, March 15th to Saturday, March 22nd, 2025. Under the theme “Building Resilience from Ridge to Reef!”, this week-long event will highlight the Belize Barrier Reef’s critical role in the national economy, environmental health, and Belizean identity.

The Tren Maya project, a major railway initiative in the southeastern region of Mexico, will possibly expand into Belize. Belize's Prime Minister, Johnny Briceño, has officially proposed extending the train across the Hondo River to promote regional integration and boost tourism. The expansion would occur in two stages: first, a seven-kilometer track would be constructed from Quintana Roo to Belize; second, a route would connect Belize to Guatemala, passing through Tikal National Park.

The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) San Pedro Chapter recently welcomed their newly elected national president, Efren Perez, who visited San Pedro Town from January 27th through 29th. This visit is part of an initiative to increase BTIA membership and share what the organization has accomplished. The organization believes that with a larger membership, they can enhance their advocacy efforts. While in San Pedro, Perez gave an exclusive interview to The San Pedro Sun, sharing his thoughts and vision for the future.

The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) held its 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday, 17 January 2025, at the Best Western Plus Biltmore Plaza in Belize City. One of the key items on the agenda was the election of new officers to the Board. Mr. Stewart Krohn, who had served as BTIA President for four years, has passed on the title to Corozal Chair, Mr. Efren Perez, who will serve as President for the next two years.

On Friday, September 27th, Belize celebrated Tourism Day by hosting a gathering of global leaders during the 1st Annual World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards at the Oakridge Venus in Spanish Lookout. The event aimed to acknowledge individuals and organizations contributing positively to tourism and pioneering sustainability initiatives. Among other countries, Belize stood out and was awarded for being the leading sustainable destination, recognizing its efforts to implement sustainable tourism practices, preserve natural and cultural heritage, and promote responsible tourism worldwide.

Following reports of a potential increase in the hotel tax from 9% to 12.5%, the tourism industry has expressed concerns. However, the Ministry of Tourism has clarified that this is part of a broader tax reform discussion, and no decision has yet been made.

Over the past months, a series of consultations with crucial San Pedro Town and Ambergris Caye stakeholders have taken place to discuss the Bacalar Chico National Park co-management plan. The consultations led by the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) have captured the feedback from business community representatives, fly-fishing tour guides, local marine biologists, conservation agencies, island residents, and enforcement agencies like the Belize Coast Guard. This input was compiled into a validation session on Friday, August 30th, where the co-management plan was presented and further discussed before it was given to the Ministry of Sustainable Development for official vetting and made available to the public.

On Wednesday, July 17th, the Sarteneja Alliance For Conservation and Development (SACD) held a meeting at the San Pedro House of Culture to work on a strategic plan to manage the terrestrial part of the Bacalar Chico National Park, a World Heritage Site in northern Ambergris Caye. SACD, a non-governmental organization in Corozal District, was given the co-management of this protected area by the Government of Belize in March 2023.