By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): The Sustainable & Inclusive Belize (SAIB) program celebrated a major achievement on Thursday, June 25, 2026, with a grant signing and award ceremony for its first cohort of tourism entrepreneurs. Working in partnership with the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations, the program honored 39 awardees from Cohort 1, who will collectively receive $1,147,138.00 in funding to drive sustainable innovation across Belize’s tourism sector.
The 39 recipients make up the first completed cohort of an ongoing, multi-phase program that will offer a total of 150 grants over a two-year period. Technical assistance and grant disbursements are continuing for other participants currently in the program pipeline, with additional cohorts to follow. A second call for applications is also coming soon, ensuring that more Belizean tourism micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises can access the support.
The grants provide up to BZD $30,000 per business and are designed to empower local tourism MSMEs. The funding will support initiatives such as solar-powered infrastructure, sustainable water management, and the enhancement of culinary experiences that highlight local ingredients and traditional dishes.
While final contracts for the first cohort are still being signed, the SAIB team is already actively supporting awardees. Three recipients have received their first disbursement to begin project implementation, and the team has started conducting site visits to administer environmental and social questionnaires, ensuring that all projects align with the program’s sustainability goals.
“This program is about more than just funding; it’s about building a sustainable and inclusive future for Belizean tourism,” said Mr. Evan Tillett, Director of the Belize Tourism Board, who delivered opening remarks at the event.
The ceremony also featured remarks from Ms. Karla González, representative of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a key partner in the SAIB program, and Ms. Nicole Usher, CEO of the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations. A highlight of the event was beneficiary feedback from U Janal Masewal, a grant recipient from San Antonio, Cayo, who shared their experience with the program. The event closed with remarks from Mr. Denmar Villar, Project Coordinator for the SAIB Tourism Component.
The SAIB program is a government initiative executed by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations, and the Belize Tourism Board, with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank. It aims to improve incomes and promote sustainable livelihoods in the agriculture and tourism sectors by providing financial aid and technical support to MSMEs.
The post SAIB celebrates inaugural tourism grant recipients with over $1.1 million for sustainable tourism appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): The Sustainable & Inclusive Belize (SAIB) program celebrated a major achievement on Thursday, June 25, 2026, with a grant signing and award ceremony for its first cohort of tourism entrepreneurs. Working in partnership with the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations,
The post SAIB celebrates inaugural tourism grant recipients with over $1.1 million for sustainable tourism appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.