How Belize Had its Biggest Year Ever in 2014

by Brian Major
Last updated: 3:30 PM ET, Wed January 14, 2015

Photo: The Palapa Bar & Grill in San Pedro, Belize. (Photo by Brian Major).

Belize's 2014 tourist arrivals reached another milestone this week in what has emerged as the most successful year in its tourism industry's history. Belize hosted 321,220 land-based, overnight visitors in 2014, according to Belize Tourism Board (BTB) statistics issued Tuesday.

The 2014 overnight visitor total represents the first year in which Belize has reached 300,000 land-based visitors. The 2014 overnight arrivals total also represents a 9.2 percent increase over Belize's previous record of 294,177 land-based travelers in 2013.

Belize also posted an all-time record in combined overnight and cruise-ship arrivals in 2014, hosting 1,289,351combined travelers. BTB officials announced in December the country had reached one million combined land-based and cruise-ship visitors two months earlier than the agency had earlier forecast.

This year's combined total represents the third time in Belize's history it has hosted as many as one million land-based and cruise-ship visitors. Belize recorded 1,036,904 overnight and cruise-ship travelers, the country's previous high total, in 2005. In 2010 Belize hosted 1,006,547 combined travelers.

Most Belize travelers originated in North America, including the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with Americans accounting for the majority said BTB officials.

Belize's cruise ship numbers surged even as it reached a land-stay milestone. Cruise passenger arrivals skyrocketed by 42.9 percent to 968,131 guests in 2014, compared with 677,350 arrivals in 2013. The increase came despite the cancellation of 13 ship calls during the 2014 season.

Cruise arrivals surged 120 percent in June 2014 versus June 2013, while year-over-year July arrivals shot up 107 percent. December was the most active month, with 141,286 cruise-ship arrivals, a 53 percent increase over 2013. The total came despite the cancellations of two cruise ship calls in December.

Belize tourism is expected to continue growing as major airlines have increased their links to the Central American country. Delta Airlines recently launched additional flights to Belize from Atlanta and United Airlines recently announced new direct flights to Belize from Chicago from December through May 2015. Southwest Airlines officials also announced the airline will launch nonstop service to Belize from Houston in October 2015.

Belize's government is also supporting increased cruise tourism growth, partnering with Norwegian Cruise Line to build Harvest Caye, a 75-acre, $50 million cruise destination on two adjoining islands in southern Belize.

The project will reportedly likely include a floating pier, an island village with open-air structures on raised platforms, a marina, a transportation hub for tours, a lagoon for water sports and a beach area.

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