In a urgent push to protect two of Belize’s most valuable coastal regions, the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) has launched a public petition calling for an immediate suspension of mining and dredging operations in Placencia Lagoon and Ambergris Caye. The action comes as public backlash against the controversial development projects grows, with leaders warning that the activity is inflicting irreversible harm on the coastal environment that underpins Belize’s most critical economic sector.
Speaking on behalf of the association, BTIA President Efren Perez emphasized that the industry group is not opposed to all development, but demands that any progress in the coastal zones be rooted in scientific evidence, full public transparency, and rigorous regulatory oversight. This approach, he argues, is the only way to safeguard both the fragile coastal ecosystems and the hundreds of thousands of livelihoods that depend on them.
Perez noted that concerns over the ongoing mining, dredging, and large-scale coastal alterations in both Placencia and the San Pedro area on Ambergris Caye have already been raised by a broad coalition of local communities and environmental advocacy groups. For the tourism sector, which forms the backbone of Belize’s national economy, these activities pose an existential threat.
Tourism’s long-term viability in the region is entirely dependent on the health of Belize’s irreplaceable natural assets: the biologically diverse lagoons, the extensive mangrove forests that buffer coastlines and support marine life, and the interconnected ecosystems that draw millions of visitors to the country each year. To protect this foundation, Perez says existing policies governing coastal development must be clarified, updated, and enforced with strict penalties for violations. Without meaningful accountability, he warns, unsustainable harmful practices will continue to be repeated, putting the entire sector at risk.
BTIA is also calling for a full formal review of the existing permitting processes for coastal development projects, to ensure all activities align fully with national environmental and conservation laws. Perez reaffirmed the association’s commitment to collaborative work with all government, industry, and community stakeholders to strike a fair, sustainable balance between economic growth and environmental protection. The core priority, he says, is to lock in effective enforcement of existing rules to guarantee that future development supports, rather than destroys, the natural resources that make Belize a world-class tourism destination.