29 Countries Meet in Belize to Talk Tourism

Belize is hosting more than 300 delegates from 29 countries this week for the 17th Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development.

The event, organised by the Belize Tourism Board and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, is being held under the theme “Tourism in Full Colour”.

Opening the conference, Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler spoke about Belize’s natural beauty and cultural diversity, pointing to the Barrier Reef, tropical forests, and mix of cultures as the backbone of the country’s tourism industry.

Mahler reminded attendees that tourism is not a side industry in the Caribbean. It contributes an average of 32% of GDP across the region, and in some small island states, more than 90%.

Globally, the sector welcomed a record 1.5 billion tourists in 2025, generating an estimated 2.2 trillion US dollars in export revenues. The Caribbean alone received an estimated 70 million visitors. “For many of our nations, tourism is not merely a sector of the economy,” Mahler said. “It is the economy.”

But he also spoke about the challenges that come with that growth. Tourism, he noted, is responsible for roughly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and despite net-zero pledges from the cruise and aviation sectors, emissions continue to rise.

Mahler said the Caribbean, while contributing the least to climate change, is feeling the effects the most, with problems like beach erosion, coral reef damage, and sargassum along coastlines. “Those who continue to create the problems must pay for the solutions,” Mahler said.

He also pointed to Belize’s efforts to manage tourism more sustainably, including its network of over 103 protected areas, its landmark Blue Bond debt restructuring deal, and its early adoption of cruise tourism carrying capacity limits. 

The conference continues through the week.