
by Brian Major
Last updated: 11:30 AM ET, Fri December 12, 2014
Photo: Southwest Airlines will add Belize to its schedule in 2015. (Photo by Brian Major).
Belize's booming tourist arrivals are set to receive another boost. Southwest Airlines has filed applications to launch nonstop service from Houston's William P. Hobby Airport to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Belize beginning in October 2015, said company officials at a Belize Hotel Association gathering Thursday.
"The entry of Southwest Airlines promises to be a game changer for the tourism sector of Belize," said Belize Tourism Board (BTB) officials in a statement issued Thursday. "The BTB looks forward to welcoming Southwest Airlines as our newest industry partner in Belize and will continue to update all stakeholders on the progress of this exciting new development."
In addition to Belize, Southwest will also launch new service to four locations in Mexico - Cancun, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos - as well as to San Jose, Costa Rica.
Belize in the midst of its most successful year for tourist arrivals since the country began keeping records. Belize has tallied one million combined land and cruise-ship travelers through October 2014.
The destination has hosted 1,018,705 visitors through October, according to BTB data, including 266,107 land-based, overnight arrivals and 752,598 cruise-ship visitors.
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