Between April and September of last year, overnight tourism arrivals were sharply increased. That's not really a surprise, since we'd been reporting on it all last year - but now, the December figures are in, and they show that the tourism year ended with a bang!

December had the second most arrivals with 23 thousand visitors arriving at the Philip Goldson International. Overnight tourism overall saw a 10.7% increase, that's 26,872 more visitors than in 2011. US Visitors made up 63.7% of this total, while Canadians made up 8.7%. And while the numbers have been going up and up for overnight tourism, we can't say the same for Cruise Tourist Arrivals; those have been going down from year to year. Those arrivals decreased by another 12% in 2012.

The statistics from the Belize Tourism Board have just been released for the country's tourism arrivals for the year 2012 and is boasting an exceptional year for Belize's Tourism Industry, particularly for overnight tourism. With their new Tourism Action Plan in full force and the launch the country's identity, including a new logo and look, Belize is looking forward to a promising year for tourim in Belize.

Overnight arrivals saw an overall 10.7% increase, in comparison to 2011 arrivals. In 2012, there were 26,872 more visitors than in 2011, recording 277,135 visitors for the entire year. The American market made up 63.7% of this total, while Canadians made up 8.7%.

Airport arrivals saw a 16.3% increase in 2012, having 211,747 tourists arriving at the Philip Goldson International Airport; therefore, making up 76.4% of the total overnight arrivals. The total airport arrivals for 2012 were 211,747. Reflecting the overnight arrivals, airport arrivals were at its highest in March, with 25,982 visitors, and December followed with 23,312 visitors.

Although cruise arrivals have decreased by 12%, it still contributed an impressive 640,734 visitors to Belize for 2012. The year began with a 34.9% increase, compared to January 2011. February also saw a 24.4% increase, as well as July with a 9.6% increase. While the numbers were down for 2012, it was within reasonable cause, as Belize had less scheduled cruise calls for 2012. Heading into 2013, BTB has gotten assurances from cruise partners that Belize will see growth in the cruise industry.

In comparison to several of our regional competitors, Belize is doing extremely well, particularly for overnight tourism. From the table below, the final overnight tourism figures released for some of the Caribbean islands show change percentages as based on comparisons to the 2011 tourism year.

"The Belize Tourism Board wishes to extend hearty congratulations to all Belizeans, our partners and stakeholders. It is through continuous hard work, collaboration and dedication that we are able to achieve such impressive results. We look forward to an even greater year in 2013!," concluded the press release.

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Tourism stats show 10% increase

The Belize Tourism Board has released its tourism arrival numbers for 2012. On the bright side, there is an upward trend in overnight stays, but numbers went down in cruise ship arrivals. But generally, the industry notes a ten point seven percent increase overall. Duane Moody reports.�

Duane Moody, Reporting

A remarkable year for Belize's Tourism Industry; that's the report coming out of the B.T.B. today after a tally of all the overnight, airport and cruise arrivals to the jewel. The numbers were crunched and the tourism sector has experienced a ten point seven percent increase when compared to 2011. The increase has surpassed projections, says Tourism Director, Laura Esquivel Frampton.

Laura Esquivel Frampton, Director of Tourism

"At our industry presentation, we hinted to being able to release these results; of course, that is because at that time, we already knew the international airport results. But we compiled it all together with the land borders and that takes a little bit more time to gather. We had hinted that we knew for sure that we had reached the ten percent increase over the previous year mark. But we are excited to say that we surpassed that a little bit more than we expected and we ended with an overall ten point seven percent increase in overnight arrivals to Belize for the period 2012."

There is an overall twenty-six thousand eight hundred and seventy-two overnight visitors more than 2011; recording a total of two hundred and seventy-seven thousand one hundred and thirty-five tourists for the entire year. March and December saw the most overnight arrivals. But there has been a decrease by twelve percent in cruise ship arrivals. This, Esquivel Frampton says, affects vendors and independent tour operators.

Laura Esquivel Frampton

"Clearly for the industry it is good; it means heads in beds, it means persons in restaurants, it means persons taking tours; it means overall increase and sustainability of jobs in the tourism sector if we can continue seeing these numbers.� While we tout and celebrate the overnight arrivals, we remain concerned about the cruise arrivals and we are working very diligently to ensure that we see growth in that market as well."

Regionally, Belize topped its competitors in overnight arrivals despite of challenges in the cruise tourism sector.

Laura Esquivel Frampton

"The worldwide rate was something like two point five percent increase in tourism. Definitely in this region and Central America, the average was about four to four point five percent. Belize was one of the outliners. Whereas now our tourism numbers tend to annually be less comparatively, the percentage wise, we have been one of the outliers in those figures showing the numbers. As you can see with the cruise arrivals compared to other similar ports, we are almost in line with what those ports are doing."

Frampton says that the B.T.B. is currently in the budgeting process and is predicting a four percent increase, which the B.T.B. intends to surpass. Duane Moody for News Five.

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