BELIZE CITY, Belize -- It's the size of Massachusetts, the only
English-speaking nation in Central America and serves as the
gateway to the Caribbean in that part of the world.
Belize, the least-populated Central American country, represents
a diverse cultural melting pot -- from Creole and Mestizo to Maya,
Mennonite and Garifuna peoples.
Mark Espat, minister of tourism, touts this diversity. "Visitors
to Belize not only comment on our natural resources, but also
respond to the warmth and welcome of Belizeans," he said. "We
celebrate our cultural diversity as well as our natural
diversity."
This diversity and appeal have combined to trigger a surge in
airlift this winter, bolstered by arrival statistics that have
crept up consistently in the past four years.
Statistics from the Immigration and Nationality Department
indicate that in 1998, Belize welcomed 176,054 visitors.
At the close of 2001, visitors topped out at 196,000. Despite
the effects of Sept. 11 on worldwide travel, Belize arrivals showed
no decrease from October through December 2001. Year-to-date
figures through September increased each month, for a total of
153,555 for the first nine months.
Espat said total 2002 figures "will match or be slightly higher
than last year's."
"What's startling is the cruise growth," Espat said. "This is
the first year that 100 or more cruise ships have called in
Belize."
Through September, 124 calls brought more than 183,000
passengers to Belize City, 60% of them from the U.S.
"Belize has become a year-round cruise destination," Espat said.
The Shopping Village at the cruise pier in Belize City recently
opened to welcome cruise visitors with shops, restaurants and arts
and crafts exhibits.
Capitalizing on the current popularity of Belize, US Airways
last month launched four weekly nonstop flights between its
Charlotte, N.C., hub and Belize City.
Air Jamaica also began four weekly flights from Montego Bay to
Belize City, and Continental will begin Saturday service from
Newark to Belize City, with continuing service to Honduras, Dec.
14.
Continental currently has two daily flights from Houston, and
American serves Belize daily from both Dallas and Miami.
David Johnson, US Airways' commercial director for the
Caribbean, said the carrier's new flights "serve the interests of
tourists and Belizeans."
"Belize is a place where U.S. visitors from the Northeast and
mid-Atlantic regions will want to spend their leisure time."
Johnson pointed out that new air services "are important because
they provide further competition for travel to Belize."
Tracy Taeger, director of tourism, said that the launch of US
Airways and Air Jamaica flights "has been a priority for us and has
helped raise the profile of Belize in the U.S. market."
It's an interesting profile. Consider this:
• Belize has four traffic lights (three in Belize City and one
in San Ignacio in the Cayo district).
• Its 185-mile barrier reef is second in size only to
Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
• The 200-plus islands that dot its Caribbean coastline are home
to numerous dive and snorkeling sites and fishing grounds.
• More than 600 Mayan sites have been mapped in Belize, but only
a handful have been excavated. Espat said that the Mayan population
in Belize "numbered more than 1 million 3,500 years ago, and their
remnants are everywhere."
• Belize's cave system is considered to be the most extensive in
Central America. "Visitors can tour our caves on foot and by canoe
or kayak," Espat said.