Question: How do you make no fortune in Belize and work in an office all your life?

Answer: Listen to armchair experts and doomsayer on forums.

barn, i heard the 40% avg occupancy quote as well.



yup - air sales last yr reaped fares of $350-400 from philly to bz- now at 650-750.

so, we're going to costa rica this fall instead. maybe next yr, belize...

Doomsaying and being honest and realistic are completely different things. When somebody is talking about sinking their life's savings into a start up venture at a time when the existing businesses are struggling is risky business.

I am not sitting on an armchair - I have sold real estate on Ambergris Caye for over 25 years and have a fairly good handle on the market.

Certainly some hotels are holding their heads above water, most of the hotels that used to have 90% occupancy here are still holding at 85% - but that is a significant drop in revenues. Some of the big hotels are laying off staff - these are places that kept their staff on during the lean period after Hurricane Keith.

85% thats a very big #

TY for all of the info

J & J

If a hotel is struggling with 85% occupancy it is the manager that should be laid off!

Have sent you a PM Amanda with a couple of questions about your listings.

Thanks

Yes i have

Perhaps a bit more info on Caye Caulker would be handy for you folks. Caye Caulker has already opened up big time. The result has been a loss of many things that made it appeal to a great many people. The guide books all talk about the peace and quiet not found in other tourist stops. That was in part the character of the villagers and part because there were no gas powered vehicles.The new traffic committee has chosen to allow many, many gas vehicles which has spoiled a good bit of the charm.There are more coming every day.
Ask the Pedranos about that. It is already too late for them. For the tourist business to boom it will require something new to make the place appealling.
Many of the businesses are owned by outsiders who have a different sensibilty about life and business. Last season tourism was reported by Gov. as down about 10% for tourist arrivals at entry portals, but business was down maybe 50% in the Caye. This is the reason so many hotels are for sale at the moment and not selling.
Any realtor who tells you that real estate is booming has their own agenda. The once wide open seafront is now crowed with buidlings built on the public beach itself. Since at least one was built by the Village Council as a rental, you can count on this tend continuing.
No beaches, few great bars, overbuilt rooms. Figure it out.

i agree!
if you like belize or want to see what others have talked about,, do it now!
the GOB is letting every development project conceived be passed.
NO MATTER WHAT!
from my opinion, they have no idea how to preserve what they have.
are not even considering it. they think the answer to all their problems is more people. i don't agree.

I'm not a doomsayer, and I support people following their dreams.I love CC and would love to live there. It's just that people have to be realistic about what it means to make a living on an island that can reasonably support a couple hundred people, but has several thousand people visit every year. If you are realistic about a simple lifestyle, accept that most of your revenue is dependent on tourism, and accept that the few families that live on the island will be competing for the few tourist dollars available, you will do fine. Just don't fall into the trap of expecting to get rich. Kick back and enjoy a simple life, and you will do great. Few places are as special as CC.