Title : Belize development opportunities and risks – Environment, economy and employment
Abstract:
Belize has a “nature based” economy and its marine resources, particularly the Belize Barrier Reef System and its accompanying Atolls (recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), serve as a major tourist attraction. Tourism is the country’s number one foreign exchange earner with Belize rightfully earning its label as “Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret”. There are many opportunities to boost Belize’s economy but the majority of these could pose a threat to the incredible marine natural resource that Belize and its citizens rely on for their livelihoods. The paper includes a review of a range of development opportunities from the perspective of the 3 Es (Environment, Economy, Employment) and proposes a path involving Government Long Term Planning - as a means to build the country’s future
