“To increase the contribution of Belize’s tourism sector to national sustainable and resilient socioeconomic development.”

• Increase tourism employment, income and revenues generated by the sector.
• Promote disaster and climate resilience and environmental sustainability in tourism destinations.
• Improve sector governance, creating enabling conditions for private sector investment in overnight tourism.

• Enhancement of the tourism product
• Promoting disaster and climate resilient tourist destinations and environmental sustainability
• Institutional strengthening and capacity building

This component aimed to diversify the tourism product and enrich tourism services and experiences, particularly focusing on nature-based and cultural tourism, in targeted destinations such as Corozal, Caye Caulker, Mountain Pine Ridge/Caracol Area, and Toledo. The overarching goal was to increase visitor expenditures while advancing social inclusion, improving environmental quality, and enhancing climate resilience. Investments included:

• Enhancing archaeological sites, including subterranean sites and ancient cities.
• Restoring and enhancing cultural attractions within the urban center of Punta Gorda Town.
• Improving and developing natural attractions.
• Enhancing waterfronts and basic infrastructure in Caye Caulker, Mountain Pine Ridge, and Punta Gorda.

This component aimed to enhance destination capacity in managing natural disaster risks and adapting to climate change by reducing vulnerability, increasing resilience, and strengthening environmental management of tourism activities. The focus was on maintaining ecosystem services and natural capital. The program financed technical studies and provided capacity-building assistance through training, manuals, and plans, thereby increasing local knowledge and enhancing the tourism sector’s ability to respond to and adapt to climate change and natural disasters.

This component aimed to enhance policy, planning, and destination management within the tourism sector, while also boosting the capacity of private sector entities and Low Income People (LIPs) involved in tourism development and promotion. The program procured goods, financed studies, and provided technical assistance to improve tourism policy and legislation, with a focus on tourism governance, climate change, and sustainable practices. It supported enhanced destination planning and management, including the collection of destination-specific data and tourism statistics. Additionally, the program offered direct support to LIPs and service providers in the excursion sector to enhance their competitiveness within the tourism value chain.