分类： business

San Pedro Town has inaugurated a new artisan market, marking a significant advancement in Belize’s community-based tourism strategy. The facility, officially opened on February 5, 2026, represents a collaborative effort between local government and national tourism authorities to create sustainable economic opportunities while celebrating local culture.

Mayor Wally Nuñez emphasized the market’s role in showcasing local talent and creating genuine opportunities for residents. “This project reflects the power of partnership,” Nuñez stated during the opening ceremony, acknowledging support from the Belize Tourism Board and government ministers.

Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler contextualized the development within broader infrastructure improvements, noting that previous tourism facilities had significant deficiencies. “Most projects we’ve worked on over the last two and half to three years have been community-based initiatives like this one,” Mahler explained, highlighting the integration of local communities into the tourism economy.

Area Representative Andre Perez detailed additional infrastructure developments accompanying the market project, including nearly seven miles of paved streets, a rebuilt bridge that was near collapse, and a forthcoming hospital serving Ambergris Caye and neighboring Caye Caulker. Perez stressed the importance of sustainable growth amid rapid development, stating that while the town is “playing catchup with infrastructure, we’re coming along.”

The artisan market represents a strategic shift toward experiential tourism that benefits local residents directly. Rather than conventional tourism development, officials described the approach as prioritizing people, culture, and sustainability—what they term “growing tourism the right way.” The market provides space for artisans to sell authentic Belizean crafts and souvenirs while ensuring economic benefits remain within the community.

This initiative forms part of a comprehensive infrastructure improvement program designed to enhance the visitor experience while distributing tourism revenues more equitably among local residents. Officials view the project as a model for future community-based tourism development throughout Belize.

Belize’s tourism sector has achieved a remarkable recovery, now exceeding pre-COVID performance benchmarks according to latest data from the Belize Tourism Board. Both overnight stays and cruise arrivals have not only rebounded but surpassed previous records, signaling a robust resurgence in the Central American nation’s vital tourism economy.

Evan Tillett, Director of Tourism at the Belize Tourism Board, revealed the sector’s strategic approach to this success. “We have been focusing more strategically on our marketing, putting significant effort into granular targeting based on comprehensive data analysis,” Tillett explained. This data-driven marketing strategy has been complemented by continuous infrastructure development within the tourism ecosystem.

The statistics demonstrate impressive growth trajectories. Cruise arrivals for 2025 showed an 8.1% increase compared to 2024 figures, while overnight tourism grew by approximately 1%. Most significantly, 2024 established a new national benchmark with 547,000 overnight visitors—the highest in Belize’s history—with 2025 projections reaching 551,000.

The positive trend continues into 2026, with January figures showing a marginal but meaningful increase over January 2025—59,173 visitors compared to 59,095. This sustained growth reflects the effectiveness of Belize’s strategic tourism initiatives.

Concurrently, the government is emphasizing community-based tourism development as exemplified by San Pedro’s new artisan market. This project represents a conscious effort to distribute tourism benefits more broadly across local communities while maintaining sustainable development principles. Industry leaders highlight this dual approach of quantitative growth and qualitative community enrichment as central to Belize’s tourism strategy moving forward.

BELIZE CITY – Amidst the challenges of rapid urbanization and overburdened infrastructure, Belize City is experiencing a remarkable surge in entrepreneurial activity that is fundamentally transforming its economic landscape. Despite persistent issues with road networks, drainage systems, and urban planning, municipal authorities report a significant increase in business registrations, approaching nearly three thousand active trade licenses.

Mayor Bernard Wagner revealed that the current count of approximately 2,976 active trade licenses represents a substantial increase from the 2,554 recorded when his administration assumed office. This growth trajectory coincides with approximately 17,000 registered properties within the city limits, indicating a vibrant expansion of commercial activity.

The pandemic era served as a critical catalyst for this economic transformation, according to Mayor Wagner. “This growth may have been triggered by necessity,” he explained. “When COVID-19 emerged, numerous residents faced job losses and subsequently ventured into entrepreneurial pursuits, many of whom never returned to traditional employment.”

Statistical analysis demonstrates that small-scale enterprises, particularly family-operated ‘mom and pop’ businesses, constitute the overwhelming majority of these new ventures. This trend underscores a fundamental shift in the city’s economic dynamics, with a growing preference for self-employment and business ownership among residents.

As urban expansion continues both physically and economically, municipal leadership now faces the complex challenge of balancing entrepreneurial encouragement with sustainable development. The administration must address infrastructure limitations while simultaneously fostering an environment conducive to continued business growth and economic diversification.

Amid ongoing scrutiny of Belize Telemedia Limited’s proposed acquisition of Speednet, the telecommunications giant is articulating its strategic vision for navigating disruptive technologies in the digital arena. Contrary to perceptions that emerging satellite internet services like Starlink pose a competitive threat, BTL’s leadership characterizes them as complementary components to Belize’s connectivity ecosystem.

Chief Financial Officer Ian Cleverly presented the company’s position during recent discussions, emphasizing BTL’s commitment to terrestrial network superiority. “Starlink serves specific complementary functions rather than direct competition,” Cleverly stated. “Our fiber-to-the-home infrastructure delivers significantly superior speeds and bandwidth capabilities compared to satellite alternatives, which operate within constrained data channels.”

The financial executive elaborated on BTL’s broader strategic objectives, highlighting investments in national capacity building. “Our growth strategy prioritizes Belize’s technical expertise development and career advancement aligned with our digital transformation agenda,” Cleverly explained. “We’re committed to upskilling Belizean talent for the new technological era while expanding training opportunities for future generations.”

BTL’s stance emerges as policymakers and industry observers debate how traditional telecom providers should adapt to global satellite internet proliferation. The company maintains that its primary focus remains strengthening domestic infrastructure rather than reacting to emerging technologies. This perspective positions satellite services as niche solutions while asserting terrestrial networks’ continued dominance in delivering high-volume data consumption requirements.

The telecommunications provider’s confident outlook reflects its assessment of current technological capabilities and market demands, suggesting Belize’s digital future will be built primarily through ground-based networks augmented by specialized satellite services.

The Social Security Board of Belize has postponed its verdict on Belize Telemedia Limited’s proposed acquisition of Speednet for the second time, citing insufficient information for a final determination. Board members convened in Belmopan on Wednesday, relocating from their Belize City headquarters due to a planned UDP demonstration, to scrutinize the transaction’s particulars.

During the session, officials examined SSB’s substantial financial exposure in the deal, given the board’s existing ownership of over 34% of BTL shares. No formal vote was conducted as members unanimously agreed that additional clarification and comprehensive analysis were imperative before reaching any conclusion. The board confirmed that no approval has been granted for the telecommunications merger.

This development marks the second deferral following the January 9 resignation of former SSB Chairperson Chandra Nisbet-Cansino, who reportedly opposed the acquisition as the board’s representative on BTL. Current board members have expressed similar reservations, with one official stating unequivocally that ‘members want more information.’

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize has amplified these concerns, asserting in a pre-protest statement that there has been inadequate disclosure or meaningful consultation with contributors whose funds are potentially at risk. The NTUCB maintains that SSB should publicly oppose the transaction until complete due diligence is performed and contributor concerns are satisfactorily addressed.