Belize Booms with 21% Increase in Overnight Visitors
by Bruce Parkinson
Belize is increasingly popular with Canadian sun seekers.
Last year was a banner one for Belize tourism, with the English-speaking nation on the eastern coast of Central America welcoming 562,405 overnight visitors in 2024 – a number that exceeds its population of 410,000.
According to “preliminary figures” reported in late January by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), Belize overnight visitors increased by 21% over 2023 and 11.8% compared with pre-pandemic 2019.
The country maintained its strong performance throughout the year, with record arrivals achieved in 11 of the year’s 12 months compared to 2019, said BTB officials. March was the top month with 69,202 visitors.
The good times are expected to continue, encouraged by the US$250 million expansion of Philip Goldson International Airport (PGIA), with the goal of renovating the facility to accommodate more passengers and increase flight operations.
The project will deliver upgrades including an expanded apron and new taxiway, plus an enlarged terminal building and new jet bridges and shopping options.
In contrast to its record success on land, Belize’s cruise sector saw a 1.6% decline in visitors through November of last year, totalling 764,993. To date, Belize cruise tourism has only recovered 73% of the arrivals it reported in 2019.
