Yes it is certainly not easy to do well there, but it is possible.

While real estate sales are certainly down this last year, our hotel has only taken a drop of around 8% from peak times.

It just gets a little tiresome when people keep airing the same ongoing gripes against the village council or traffic commitee on here to potential investors or visitors(because yes the whole island does rely on tourism now) instead of focusing that energy to lobby the council or government for change.

CM... Well said sir! On my last 2 trips to SP I have seen many evening meetings in progress at the Lions Den, and there seemed to be large concerned crowds at all of them. While I am not certain of the subject matter, the fact they existed at all was heartening.

Caye Maker is correct of course.
For those new here a review of the cast of characters may be useful. I sold my beachfront and used the money to build the new high school.Cooper is a player in the new Animal shelter.Cayeboard serves as an advisor to Minister Heredia.Along with others we sponsor cleanups on Earth Day.lobby the Gov. almost nonstop to save the beaches, stop the gas vehicles,fight crime and so on.We also take the time to answer questions truthfully to potential new residents so they will not join the sad line of failures who come and see their dreams die on Caye Caulker.
If a guy wanted to sell his hotel he might prefer we serve as cheerleaders to that effort and focus on telling folks how fabulous it all is and what big money you will make here, without actually spending enough time here first to understand what is going on.

Even if your hotel only makes a 5% ROI, it is still better than stock market losses, a negative real estate market in the U.S. or leaving your money in a CD at 1-1/2%. Before Caye Caulker gets another bite taken out of an already small pie, I would recommend looking at existing hotels that are for sale and seeing what you can do with remaking something that is already here. Keep the wheel rolling rather than try to reinvent it.

lee, respectfully, are you saying someone could likely make a 5% ROI on a hotel on CC in the first 5 years, after expenses of start up? wouldn't it have to be truly 100% turnkey to do that? if it was making 5% ROI, why would an owner sell it? how much of that 5% would have to be put into promotion & advertising, etc to maintain biz?

my CD may only be making 2.02%, but it requires zero upkeep, staffing or R&M, and is guaranteed not to fail. (hug, lee <3 - just playing devil's advocate, my unfortunate hobby)

If you are interested in building, we have water front property. What is your e-mail...

Sweet Jane, yes it is possible to make a 5% ROI here, when you buy an existing business. Our rental property is for sale and has an 8% ROI. When you buy an existing business there is very little start up, it has already started up. And as for why would someone sell if their business is making money? In my opinion, that is exactly when you should sell. My husband is 65, from Caye Caulker, born and raised here and ready to "retire" to the U.S.

We could start a whole other thread on "Why people fail in Belize"

You can get 6% on a CD with Belize bank

Compounded semi-annually or quarterly though, not monthly like in the US.