And while there's plenty of back slapping and self-congratulation to go around for the sharp increases in overnight tourism - no one wanted to talk too much about Cruise Tourism.

That important sector witnessed a ten per cent downturn in 2012 - and just this week, it was announced that Carnival was cancelling ten calls to Belize - which represents the loss of tens of thousands of visitors.

Director Of Tourism Laura Esquivel Frampton said it is an area of priority, but, at this point, it's not a crisis:..

Jules Vasquez
"There was a down turn in cruise tourism 10% is a massive and consequential down turn because it represents major losses for regular people."

Laura Esquivel-Frampton, Director BTB
"Yes and of course we did not toss it over. We are disappointed with those numbers and that is one of the reasons why we mentioned that we are creating a new position within the Belize Tourism Board "The Director of Cruise and Regional Initiatives" we feel that it's important that we have somebody who is knocking on those doors who is constant communication with the cruise lines to ensure that we are hearing what they have to say and we are responding."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you all treating the propitious dip in cruise tourism arrivals as a crisis; as an emergency? Ten calls have been cancelled just for the remainder of this season?"

Laura Esquivel-Frampton, Director BTB
"I wouldn't say that we are treating it as a crisis but we are taking note of it and we are making consorted efforts in that light. We do recognize the importance of cruise tourism and we are adamant that we are gonna continue working with that industry and to find new avenues in order to adequately service that sector."

Esquivel-Frampton said that the government is trying to engage with investors to develop a Cruise Tourism Village berthing facility. The absence of that - and having to use tenders is what Carnival Cruise Lines says is the cause of the congestion.

Channel 7