Government receives grant sustainable tourism project

BELMOPAN, CMC

The government of Belize recently signed an agreement with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) for a BZ$800,000 technical assistance grant to finance its sustainable tourism development project.

The funds, which were approved under the Taiwan-CABEI Partnership Trust Fund (TCPT), are earmarked for the development of the country’s "National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan (NSTMP) 2030, focusing on two components, consulting services for visitor-flow management in the northern and western borders, and consulting services for waterfront destination development in Dangriga Town”, which includes “services required to generate a feasibility study, design, and construction documents for the waterfront development”, a statement on the government’s Facebook page said.

“The NSTMP’s vision for tourism development promotes progress for disaster and climate resilience, environmental sustainability in tourism destinations, the improvement of the governance of the industry, the creation of jobs and the optimisation of economic opportunities for Belizeans.”

According to the statement, upon completion, the tourism masterplan will help to improve “visitors’ experience and overall competitiveness and fosters an environment that enables the private sector to invest in the tourist industry”, adding that its overall objective is “for Belize to be an exclusive, multicultural, sustainable destination in the Central American and Caribbean region”.

Prime Minister John Briceño signed the agreement on behalf of Belize, and thanked the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and CABEI for their continued support of Belize adding that he looks forward to the ongoing partnerships.

“The financial backing and expertise provided by Taiwan, along with the regional perspective and developmental resources contributed by CABEI, have synergistically fuelled the progression of this plan.

“Their unwavering commitment and collaborative efforts have been pivotal in laying the foundation to implement this strategic initiative. The indispensable support of these partners underscores the significance of international collaboration in achieving shared goals for sustainable development and resilience,” he said.