In response to the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and the escalating pressures of climate change, Belize initiated a major update of the NSTMP in 2022, concluding in 2024. The updated plan places renewed emphasis on climate adaptation and resilience, introducing a specific adaptation strategy for the tourism sector. Priority areas now include . In 2023, Belize was named the official host destination for the inaugural World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, further cementing its reputation as a global leader in sustainable hospitality.
Since its inception, the CBS has been upheld by the government of Belize as "a prime example of a working model of participatory ecotourism development". The sanctuary has successfully increased howler monkey populations, and local residents express strong support for protecting the land both to ensure the howlers' habitat and to protect resources for future generations. Most residents have grown up with howlers all their lives, know individual troops well, and discuss new births with excitement.
: There is a growing perception that high visitation rates from cruise ships are causing Belize to lose its ecotourism identity, shifting it toward a mass tourism destination. Key Challenges for Future Management
Belize is a global leader in ecological conservation and sustainable travel. The country features the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, vast tropical rainforests, and ancient Maya civilizations. It has successfully turned its natural capital into a primary economic driver. In response to the shocks of the COVID-19
The perception of eco-tourism in Belize varies among stakeholders:
The paper adds value in three ways:
The CBS research revealed a more complex picture. While residents loved the howlers and strongly supported maintaining sanctuary status, they were dissatisfied with the distribution of economic benefits. Some members threatened to withdraw their membership because they felt that management was not well organized and that benefits were not evenly distributed across villages. Notably, women have historically been excluded from stakeholder meetings, policy making, and project implementation—a pattern that the Government of Belize is now seeking to address as it focuses on ecotourism as a development strategy. In 2023, Belize was named the official host
Requiring local guides keeps tourism revenue inside the domestic economy and preserves local cultural heritage.
Negative perceptions occasionally arise regarding restricted access to resource-rich areas. When national parks enforce strict no-take zones, local fishers or hunters sometimes perceive conservation policies as economic exclusion.
Despite the benefits of eco-tourism, there are several challenges and opportunities that need to be addressed: Most residents have grown up with howlers all
A UNESCO World Heritage site supporting diverse marine life and extensive coral formations.
Here, management is decentralized, with village councils and the Toledo Alcaldes Association enforcing rules on visitor behavior, waste disposal, and profit-sharing.
Belize, a small Central American nation bordered by Mexico, Guatemala, and the Caribbean Sea, is a globally recognized hotspot for biodiversity. Despite its modest landmass (approximately 22,970 km²), it hosts over 4,000 species of flowering plants, 700 species of trees, and countless fauna, including jaguars, tapirs, and howler monkeys. Its coastal zone features the second-largest barrier reef system in the world—the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.
, established in 1987 as Belize's first marine protected area, is widely regarded as a model for marine conservation and sustainable tourism. The reserve's management has capitalized on tourism by levying a fee on foreign visitors, with revenues reinvested into management activities. During the STC 2026 conference, the reserve was celebrated as "an outstanding example of the mutually beneficial relationship between marine conservation and sustainable tourism".
The management of eco-tourism in Belize relies on a collaborative, multi-tiered governance model. This system blends government oversight with non-governmental organization (NGO) co-management and community participation. Co-Management Models