New Artisan Market Boosts Community Tourism in San Pedro

San Pedro is celebrating a new space that puts local culture and creativity front and center. Wednesday marked the official opening of the town’s new artisan market, a project leaders say is all about community‑based tourism and creating real opportunities for Belizeans. Mayor Wally Nuñez, Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler, and Area Representative Andre Perez all pointed to the market as part of a broader push to improve infrastructure while making sure residents benefit directly from the island’s rapid growth. They say it’s about growing tourism the right way, by putting people, culture, and sustainability first.

 

Wally Nunez, Mayor, San Pedro Town

“This morning, we are proud to welcome you to the opening of our artisan market, a space that celebrates local talent, culture, and opportunity. This project reflects the power of partnership and on behalf of the San Pedro Town Council, I extend sincere thanks to the Belize Tourism Board, Minister Andre Perez, and Minister Mahler for their support and commitment to community-based tourism.

 

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“A couple years ago, when we looked at the tourism infrastructure that we have, or had at the time, we saw that there were many deficiencies. This is the main port of entry and then you walk into a building like this, and far too often, we don’t want to speak about these things. Now, I will say that most of the projects that we’ve worked on over the last two and half to three years have been community-based initiatives like this one. We believe in the importance of community and tourism, the people that we have in our communities and how they are integrated into the overall tourism product and how they can earn a decent living for themselves and their families.”

 

Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural North

“These are the places where, when people travel, we look, where can we get something that we can take back as a souvenir? And what is more fitting today than inaugurating an artisan market. So that is very, very important and I want to thank everyone for that collaborative effort that we do, working together with the council, the ministry, as the area rep. It’s about how our town is growing rapidly, by leaps and bounds. And yes, we must be realistic that we are playing catchup with infrastructure, but we’re coming along. Of course, today, with the artisan market we’ve done a lot. With the paving of almost seven miles of street, with concrete paving. Immediately after coming in, the bridge was about to collapse; we’ve accomplished that bridge, of course a hospital which is very, very vital for Ambergris Caye and serving neighboring Caye Caulker, that is coming along well, as well. Very soon, of course, they’re opening more of the roads that will lead up north. But with all of that, of course, we have to be mindful that we must grow in a way that is very sustainable.”

 

Leaders say San Pedro’s new artisan market is a big step toward community‑based tourism, creating local opportunities while making sure the island’s rapid growth stays sustainable.