How Much Longer Can Tourism Absorb Sargassum’s Hit?

Every year, sargassum washes ashore during the same months Belize needs its beaches to look their best. Eugene Baptist says that is not the time of year the tourism industry can afford having setbacks

Baptist, co-founder of coastal cleanup company Coastal Green Horizon and a long-time figure in Belize’s tourism sector, has watched the problem grow for over a decade. He says it was once manageable, but recent years have shown it to become something else entirely.

“Ten years ago, it was probably less than one-third of what we currently have… And I don’t see the situation getting any better.”

The meters of sargassum choking Belize’s coastlines come with a growing price tag. The Baptist’s concern is now looking ahead to where the industry is headed if barely anything is done about it.

Baptist pointed to occupancy rates as the clearest measure of what is at stake. Resorts running at 90 to 100 percent capacity during peak season could see a significant drop within five years, he warned, as travelers choose other tropical destinations not affected by sargassum.

“If you’re coming from Europe or if you’re coming from Canada, why go to Belize when you can go on the other side of the world and still have tropics with no sargassum?” he asked.

He drew a sharp comparison to past economic shocks. “We thought we were affected by COVID. Sargassum is not going away. And we need to take it seriously.”

While he says the root causes fueling the volume of sargassum is likely not going away because of climate change, he argued Belize cannot wait for a perfect solution.

“We need to stop talking and start doing. Because if you look at the numbers, many of these businesses have lost a considerable amount already. That’s not going to get better.”

For the moment being, Baptist and his business partner, Dana Meeks, have been conducting cleanup operations in Hopkins and the Maya Beach area. The pair launched Coastal Green Horizon this past December, just ahead of the 2026 sargassum season, and are converting it into usable products like bricks, pavers, and garden planters.

“Us as Belizeans, we don’t have the option to run from it [sargassum]. So, it’s just best to tackle it head-on and just do your small part,” he said.