New San Pedro Airport? BTIA Says Not So Fast
Tourism stakeholders and residents’ groups are questioning plans to develop a new airport facility in northern Ambergris Caye and eventually phase out San Pedro’s existing municipal airport.
They say relocating airport operations could affect businesses in the town centre and should not proceed without proper public consultation.
Melanie Paz, Chairperson of the Belize Tourism Industry Association’s (BTIA) San Pedro Chapter, says the chapter reached a consensus against the proposed airport development during a meeting earlier this week. “Simply because of the economic effect it would have on this area and everything downtown,” said Paz.
Paz argues that Ambergris Caye has other priorities that need attention before millions of dollars are invested in a new airport. These include healthcare, infrastructure, traffic congestion, waste management and the ongoing sargassum problem.
She also says local residents and stakeholder organisations should have been included in discussions about the proposal. “There hasn’t been any consultations done, not with the local residents, not with BTIA, not with Chamber of Commerce, and a number of other organizations that should have been at least consulted.”
Progress or Disruption? New Airport Plan Divides Ambergris Caye
BTIA National President Efren Perez says the association is not opposed to development, but does not believe the island is in urgent need of a new airport at this time.
Perez points to the investment made at the existing airport a couple of years ago. “There was an investment made just a couple years ago at this John Greif II Airport, where they did the extension of the runways,” he said.
The concerns are also being raised by residents in the north. Catherine Paz, President of the Ambergris North Alliance, says communities are worried about major development plans, including the proposed airport and a possible bridge through Bacalar Chico National Park to Mexico. She argues that basic services and infrastructure should be addressed before larger projects are pursued.
San Pedro Mayor Wally Nuñez has clarified that the Town Council is not opposed to constructing another runway in northern Ambergris Caye. “What we’re opposing is the closure of the current municipal airport at the moment,” he said.
Nuñez explained that the original idea for a northern runway was to establish a fixed-base operator facility primarily serving private aircraft, while also providing another option for local airlines to transport visitors directly to northern resorts.
The Inter-American Development Bank’s strategic development plan for Ambergris Caye recommends eventually phasing out the existing airport and using the land for urban development.
However, Nuñez stressed that closing the existing airport is not a final decision. “If it needs be that we’ll have to close this eventually, I wouldn’t see this happening in the next 20 years.”
Both the BTIA and Ambergris North Alliance say they support further engagement with government before decisions are made about the future of the island’s airport and surrounding communities.