Crusie Lines moving in

Not much except there are 2 sides to it like everything.

I feel the same way. I just hope they are good stewards of the environment and help more than they hurt.

Spiceman you always seem so balanced and logical...nice to see your replies.

Thanks Boxergal

the ship lanes go right through the manatee preserve.......   where do you think that the ships will dump their sewage?   Please note that Belize is at the dead end of the Carribean sea.   the water is dirtiest at this end of the sea.   We are like the appendix of the human gut, a catch all

Is this cruise line coming to Ambergris?

I recently spoke to a man who was on a cruise ship that stopped in Belize City for a day or two. They didn't really do any site-seeing in the city itself,  but were wisked away in buses to places outside the city for activies like zip-lining.  At least that's what he told me in our short conversation.

Belize can use a boost of Tourism

Tourism in Belize is a small industry in my opinion.    The activities of diving, climbing pyramids, caving, zip lining etc are all physical and generally will appeal to those under 40 and whom are physically fit.    Cruise ship tourists are generally over 50 & more sedentary.    The infrastucture here is a misery.   Exploring without a guid would be dangerous for most.  The cost of renting a vehicle is $100 US daily plus.   no theaters   few luxury accomodations---   some are expensive but not luxurious by European or North American expectations.   there are MANY Carribean Islands with better beaches, etc etc etc     these islands can successfully compete for tourist revenue..   few venues with music.   little protection from the insects    the beaches in Placentia are attractive to Carribean tourists, but the north does not have much in the way of sand beaches.    Belizean cuisine is unlikely to attract tourists.  I would love to see Belize prosper and provide a bettter standard of living for Belizeans.  I do not know if tourism can realistically do much.

I have gone through your posting twice. So what kind of recommendation can you come up with  to make Belize attractive and people to prosper

spiceman.  you pose an interesting question/topic.    I must say I do not know an answer that I think would be really good.    I do not know if increased tourism is the best solution for Belize to prosper.    It seems to me that your remarks elsewhere about the success of abolishing the current tariffs in India were appropriate.   That may be the best idea at this time.   I have been hoping that Belize could just skip the whole "industrial revolution" age (with its reliance on fossil fuels and raw materials generating air and water pollution) and go High tech, especially in the field of energy production.    Could we make enough solar energy to sell extra to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala??   And lower the rates to Belizean consumers??   Could we train more engineers and chemists who could design more efficient solar energy systems?  Could we become the world leader in all aspects of solar energy while keeping our air and water clean?    Could we be a model for countries who preserve their wild life by preserving their habitat?    I do not know the answers.   I am clear that there probably are no models for Belize to follow to create clean ongoing prosperity for Belizeans.   Certainly not Europe or No America or China.    much to consider.

some specifics on the cruise ships.   there is a proposal from Norwegian Cruise Lines to create 4 dock/bays near  Placentia, on Harvest Caye.    This week the Placentia village counsel voted against this venture.

its certainly the end of sustainable tourism in Belize as we have know it, worked hard to develop and according to all experts in the field hired to survey our way forward for the best possibly affects on Belize, the absolute wrong way to go. But this is not about what is best for Belize. NCL are the entity which can buy and pay off govt officials for approvals to move forward. The Punta Azul Project just the more resent assault of idiocy.  As long as Belize officials are corrupt the country does not have a chance and each for the govt dept will only move to the tune of a blue note.  Sad.  Not the country I moved

Hi Katievalk
Would you please tell me what is Punta Azul project ?
Thanks

http://www.ambergristoday.com/content/s … house-reefhttp://www.puertoazulholding.com/

I thought I had read that the Placencia Town Council had voted down the Cruise Lines Proposal, and the whole issue was dead......at least for the Placencia area.  Did I read wrong?  Is the proposal still alive?

Thanks

Alive and well as long as NCL has money and a whiff of jobs none of them but the top few will get.  May all these parasites suffer the same ill health affects are the coral and marine life they intend to destroy, for nothing

Katie Valk is correct on all counts.  the cruise lines fiasco has been opposed by every branch of the govt except the Tourism.  the ships cut thru the manatee preserve.   Then the absolute insane scam of the puerto azul fiasco a multimillion $ scam to further rape Belize for the bribes paid a favored few.  Look for who the ministers are who are involved in this... follow the money..  let the high buck people come here and get beaten and robbed with machetes and sawed off shotguns.  In a few years the expats who can afford it will move on to a safer place.

Although I believe Belize needs tourism, and that tourism is a vital part of the economy, I'm not sure cruise ships are the answer, particularly in the area of Placencia. The trade-off for increased tourism and revenue, is probably a detriment for the environment, given the specifics of the proposed endeavour. The other issue is can Placencia handle 20,000 tourists at once? Have you ever seen one of the cruise ships unload in Key West? Wow! Talk about a mass exodus and total chaos - and Key West has plenty of room. I'm not sure Placencia can handle that type of activity - and all those people are looking for food, liquor, fun and a party! Might lead to some problems - just sayin'.

It is always a choice. Almost anything can be managed

cruise ship tourism is an ecological problem.    Where do you think their sewage goes?   Belize is at the closed end of the  Caribbean.  Increased activity will harm the sea life. 

This will not be managed.  I say that because I do not see the govt of Belize handling their issues at any level plus the cruise ships have no interest in anything but their own profits. 

They have no interest in the  manatees or other marine life.

Hi Kristinanadreau
Any human activities will affect other living organisms. You may be right ,the shipping Channel  and dock, construction may affect everything living in the area. Wonder if Belize government has done any independent unbiased studies how this project will impact the environment. Other Caribbean countries like Cayman and Bahamas seem to manage the situation well (I am not sure about this)
It is hard to stop "growth". Uncontrolled growth may be chaotic and may be even self destructive. The very reason the tourists (including Cruise ship tourists) visit places like Belize, Tahiti,Hawaii,  etc is to see the beauty (that include the plants and wild life) of the country. It is hard to imagine Belize (I guess the Govt) would embark on a project that will destroy the best part of Belize- her natural beauty. I understand money and greed may overtake other concerns. But there may be a way to have growth while protecting the environment.

Spiceman, from what I have read, the department of the Belize Govt that is concerned with the Environment is opposed to this development and has stated so, unequivocally.    The man who is the minister of Tourism is Hell bent on the development of the cruise ship docks and the scam on Harvest Caye.   as a guess, he will net several million for himself by advancing these ventures, even tho the ventures are opposed by the public.   I am a strong proponent of economic development that provides well paid work for Belizeans,     Creating more domestic labor jobs does not seem like a good return for destroying something irreplaceable.   I am an observer here, and since I am a guest of the country and not a voting, passport carrying Belizean, I can do little.    I am not blind to the reality of my surroundings.

Point well taken

Min Of Tourism doesn't think, but follows party line.  The CEO of Tourism carries out the directives from the PM. No one wants this in Placencia or the area and all studies conducted by experts on behalf of govt for future of tourism have stated cruise ship tourism should be kept in Belize City and only pocket size (ships under 300 passengers) allowed, as have been for yrs in these areas.  The PM's response to citizens in Stann Creek who are vehemently against?  "Get used to it"
There's a nice example of democracy and a govt that responds to its people's needs and desires.