By Aaron Humes: Belize still continues to push for a docking facility to avoid a fall in arrivals if major lines decide to drop Belize from its schedules.
Evan Tillett, Director of Tourism, says the Government has seen the importance of the issue and is working on it: “From a cruise perspective, we are up [in arrivals] over last year and that in itself is a really solid thing, because we continue to lose traction because we don’t have a mainland facility port. So I think we are doing well in these trying times.”
But with the Stake Bank development in court, the Government slowly developing its idea for a combination cruise and cargo port in the Port Loyola area at the Port of Belize, and the Port of Magical Belize at Sibun still not advancing, when can we expect anything of this magnitude? Tillett admits it will take a while: “To my knowledge, I know there have been some advancement of the Port of Belize project, and from my knowledge of the situation, I think we should have something working there as we speak, and within the next maybe three to four years, there should be a viable mainland cruise port facility that will allow us to grow cruise tourism again.”
Tillett noted that lines are building smaller ships for destinations like Belize, that are more “boutique and luxury” and fit with the Jewel as a destination. As to the cruise lines that visit Belize losing patience, CEO Nicole Solano says discussions continue with the lines and our product continues to draw significantly.
The post Cruise tourism: Mainland cruise port docking facility still a priority appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Aaron Humes: Belize still continues to push for a docking facility to avoid a fall in arrivals if major lines decide to drop Belize from its schedules. Evan Tillett, Director of Tourism, says the Government has seen the importance of the issue and is working on it: “From a cruise perspective, we are up
The post Cruise tourism: Mainland cruise port docking facility still a priority appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
