If it keeps increasing like this it will. No tourists are shot in Belize City but how many tourists want to spend a day there or buy a house or condo there? Harvest Caye is there to keep tourists out of the city port.
You are absolutely right. I have never talked to anyone who went to Belize City on a cruise who had a single good word for it. The usual reaction I get is, "you live in Belize" with a look of disbelief. I have to explain that I do not live in Belize City and that there are parts of the country that are very nice. The people whose only look at Belize is from a few hours in Belize City have a very poor impression of the country. If Harvest Caye gives them a better experience and Belize a better image, I'm all in favor of it.
Katie of course Harvest Caye was built to make money. Do you think it was built to lose money on purpose? There are not many ports in Central America compared to the ships plying their trade here. If there was better prospects they probably would never enter these waters at all. The idea is to satisfy their customers and keep them coming back not to tell others of their bad experiences and feelings of insecurity. Most of the expats I know all have a list of cab drivers who meet them at the airport or ferry and stay with them all day while they shop or what ever. This is to make sure of their safety and prevent them from wandering to areas of danger. Hell the locals I know of prominence always take security very seriously in the city. It is just a fact of life in Belize but especially Belize City.