Download CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS

CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS
8.1. Conclusion on Findings and Suggestions
8.1.1 Summary of Findings
Throughout the years, tourism has had a growing economic and social significance especially
in Belize and other developing countries. The promotion of tourism in developing countries
as a growth sector resides in its perceived potential to accelerate growth in GDP; to create
employment; to increase foreign exchange earnings; and to attract capital investment.
Developing countries have thus recognized its importance and introduced tourism as a major
part of their national development strategies.
Since developing countries tend to import more and their exports hold only a small portion in
the international trading market, it was discussed that as small economies, these developing
nations have very limited financial resources, so capitalizing on tourism remains their best
alternative to maintain a growing economy. We saw that Belize, like many developing
nations, is characterized as a dependent economy in which most of its important economic
activities are geared towards the production and export of a few commodities. In this regard,
tourism offers countries like Belize the opportunity to compete fairly and with greater profits,
because people are always traveling and even more so today with the opening up of markets,
easier access to countries, and more cost efficient and less time consuming ways to travel.
Thus, the efficient utilization of the abundant endowment in their pristine natural resources,
which are lacking in the developed nations, presents the gateway for these developing nations
to capture financial gains and balance off from the areas where they lack such gain.
The export orientation focus of the Belizean economy had long limited both the scope of
economic diversification and the development of strong, inter-sectoral linkages between
tourism and the rest of the economy. It was predominantly for this reason that the industry, in
many developing countries, has become highly import dependent. Although being the fastest
growing sector in Belize, the high import content of the tourism industry meant that a
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significant portion of foreign exchange earnings from tourism is accrued abroad in imports for
construction; imports of consumer goods; repatriation of profits; overseas promotional
expenditures; and amortization of external debt incurred by the industry.
8.1.2 Suggestions:
The concept of developing the industry to new heights should not only entail trying to
increase the number of arrivals yearly in order to increase the revenues, but in the process to
instill the value of development in the local communities and better the livelihood of the
people. This will reflect positively, as the local individuals or business are encouraged and
begin to invest in the industry.
Also, having adequate support from the government will encourage committed collaboration
from private sector individuals or companies. Thus, as discussed, the Government of Belize
needs to cater more attention in the area. It is essential for tourism to be the national priority
of the present government to ensure the viability of the industry in the future, especially as it
deals with non-cruise tourism. This category of tourists is the one that positively impacts the
economy more than the cruise tourists. Because the non-cruise tourists stay in Belize for a
period of time, we must ensure that they always feel welcomed, safe and appreciated. Belize
has taken the first steps in terms of the Tourism Police Unit, but must continue to strengthen
this Unit. Furthermore, Belize must be able to develop a network system of well coordinated
tourist information centers throughout the country, in addition to the location of major tourist
attractions. The centers would provide the tourists with a detailed plan to assist them in areas
such as transport mediums, times, prices, locations, telephone numbers, contact persons,
reservations and the like. Proper planning and consultations between the private and public
sectors are paramount.
The efforts of the government in implementing effective policies will maintain the life of the
industry and assist it to develop healthily. By targeting community development, the local
people will grow to value the importance of the industry and also be able to improve their
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lifestyle. The new concept of focusing on the attractions of specific communities and having
the local people become involved will bring about a change that will boost the tourism
industry to another level, a level that will provide the citizens with a more beneficial
alternative to their livelihood as seen very recently with the Sarteneja case, where a “fishing
community” is being presented with the opportunity to embrace tourism. This community of
less than 3000 inhabitants has for generations only known and made a living through fishing.
But today with saturation in the fishing industry and the decline in profit making, the
Government and private sector through a few organizations, plan to provide incentives for the
local people to engage in business in the tourism sector. Realizing the need to adopt to the
changes in economic activity and improve their livelihood, the citizens of this village are eing
presented with the idea to exchange their traditional fishing activity to become a part of the
tourism industry as tour guides or other business entrepreneurs in souvenir shops and the like.
Similarly, the presence of the large number of tourists threatens Belize’s once notorious
pristine natural environment. By continuing to build upon sustainable tourism development
and management, Belize can be assured that its natural and human resources will be able to
survive longer and contribute further success in the industry, despite the increased arrivals of
tourists. Thus, the continuation of proper management programmes is essential, as well as
careful monitoring. From a long-term perspective, tour operators must seek to limit the group
size of tourists, coordinate with native guides and the local people, and contribute a
percentage of tour profits to community projects and research.
8.2 Further Studies
This paper focused mainly on Belize tourism, its national performance, and tourism business
in general. Due to lack of data, an effective comparison with other Caribbean countries was
not possible at the time. However, it would be feasible to conduct further in depth research on
tourism and economic development in other Caribbean countries and do a cross sectional
country analysis on such. Such study would further enhance the conclusions made in this
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report on tourism business opportunities, experiences and future development in the
Caribbean on a whole.
8.3 Conclusion
The global trend in tourism is no longer so much in the direction of sea and sand tourism, but
more on attraction, cultural heritage, and green tourism. For there to be a more sustainable
tourism product a different approach to product development must be adopted. Tourism
development should focus on developing a product which is attractive to the visitor, but which
is also culturally uplifting and economically beneficial. In the past, tourism development has
been conceived as simply a product to make money for investors by luring visitors to our
shores to have a good time. This view of tourism needs to change if the industry is to be
sustainable in Belize. Clearly then, there is a need to make connections with products which
can enhance the education, the identity, the self-confidence, the self-esteem of the people,
while at the same time earning income for the population.
For this type of tourism to develop as a whole, a different mindset is required from the policy
makers and the society. Research and training has to be taken more seriously, as training at
all levels of the industry is important for this type of tourism to prosper. Training for the
tourism sector has to be in all areas, including the humanities, the social sciences, and the
natural sciences. These studies will facilitate the promotion of both heritage and educational
tourism. Furthermore, officials need to embark on the collection and record of more in-depth,
reliable, verifiable, up-to-date, and objective data which would aid to better analyze the
tourism situation in Belize in terms of product development, marketing, regional planning,
impact assessment and control, industry evaluation and resource allocation.
This will allow
the Government to be able to make sound policy implementations and decisions for the
growth of the industry and also allow Belizeans to be able to reap the fruits of the business
opportunities in tourism.
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