List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………………… vi
List of Figures …………………………………………………………………………….. vi
List of Acronyms ……………………………………………………………………….. viii

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………….…………ix

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Importance of Thesis Focus …………………….. 1
1.2 Thesis Objective ……………………………….... 2
1.3 General Hypothesis ……………………………... 3
1.3.1 Research Questions ……………………………... 3
1.4 Thesis Structure …………………………………… 3
1.5 Research Methodology ……………………………… 5
1.6 Research Limitations ……………………………… 6

Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW:
Tourism, Its Importance, Policy and Planning and their role in
Economic Development and Business Opportunities

2.1 Definitions ……………………………………………..7
2.2 The Tourism Industry ………………………………… 7
2.3 Tourism Business and Economic Development ……… 9
2.4 Tourism and the Government ………………........ 10
2.5 Tourism and its impact on Economic and Business
Development ………… 12
2.6 Different Tourism Policies and their Importance
for Industry and Business Development, and the
National Economy................................16
2.6.1 An Outlook …………………………………………….. 16
2.6.2 Different Country Tourism Policies ……………… 17
2.6.2.1 Taiwan ………………………………………....….. 17
2.6.2.2 New Zealand …………………………………..…… 18
2.6.2.3 Indonesia…………………………………………... 18
2.6.2.4 Syria …………………………………………………. 19
2.6.2.5 Seychilles ……………………………………………. 20
2.6.2.6 Ukbekistan ………………………………………….. 20
2.6.2.7 Samoa ……………………………………………….. 21
2.6.2.8 Oriental Mindoro ………………………………… 21
2.6.2.9 Thailand ……………………………………………. 21
2.7 Conclusion to Chapter ………………………………… 22

Chapter 3: ATTRACTIONS THAT LURE THE TOURIST TO BELIZE

3.1 Welcome to Belize ……………………………………… 23
3.2 Belize Today …………………………………………… 24
3.3 The Splendors of Belize ……………………………. 24
3.3.1 National Reserves ………………………………... 25
3.3.2 Mayan Ruins ………………………………………... 26
3.3.3 The Caribbean Sea ………………………………….. 27
3.3.4 Caves ………………………………………………... 29
3.3.5 Villages/ People ………………………………….. 28
3.4 Conclusion ……………………………………………. 29

Chapter 4: TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BELIZE:
ITS ROLE AS A TOOL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

4.1 Belize’s Tourism Development ………………… 30
4.2 Polices………………………………………………… 32
4.3 Economic Development of Belize …………………. 35
4.4 Linking Tourism and the Economic Development of
Belize …………… 37
4.4.1 Balance of Payments …………………………….. 38
4.4.2 Job Creation ……………………………………... 38
4.4.3 Contributing to Sustainable Development …… 39
4.4.4 Providing Infrastructure …………………………39
4.4.5 Enhancing Educational Opportunities ………… 40
4.5 Conclusion to Chapter ……………………………40

Chapter 5: STATISTICAL FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS

5.1 Trend Analysis …………………………………………..41
5.1.1 Tourist Arrival Trends …………………...41
5.1.2 Cruise Arrival Statistics …………………………43
5.1.3 The Hotel Industry …………………………………. 44
5.1.4 Tourism Revenue and its Percentage of GDP … 47 5.1.5 Belize Tourism in the Caribbean Region ……… 48

5.2 Regression Analysis ……………………………… 49
5.2.1 Testable Hypothesis …………………………………50
5.2.2 Model Specification ………………………………….51
5.2.3 Descriptive Statistics ………………………………51
5.2.4 Empirical Report ……………………………………… 52
5.2.5 Interpretation and Analysis of Models …………. 54
5.2.5.1 Impact of Total Tourist Arrivals and Expenditure
On GDP Market Value ………….…….….. 54

5.2.5.2 Impact of Tourist Arrivals on Belize’s National
employed labour............................54
5.2.5.3 Impact of Non-Cruise and Cruise tourist arrivals on
GDP market value ……………………………………. 55
5.2.5.4 Impact of Tourism Expenditure, Tourism Arrivals and Tourism Expenditure per tourist on Inflation rate …. 55
5.2.5.5 Impact of Non-Cruise and Cruise Tourist Arrivals on
Total Tourism Expenditure ………………………………… 56
5.3 Conclusion to Chapter ………………………………… 56

Chapter 6: TOURISM AND TOURISM BUSINESS IN THE CARIBBEAN REGION

6.1 Background ………………………………………………… 58
6.2 Tourism Development ……………………………………. 59
6.3 Trends ……………………………………………….……. 61
6.4 Cruise Tourism in the Caribbean ……………………. 62
6.5 Tourism Polices and Development in the Caribbean . 64
6.5.1 Issues affecting Caribbean Tourism Development 66
6.6 The Role of Government ………………………………. 66
6.7 Tourism as a sustainable development strategy for the Caribbean ………………. 70
6.7.1 Regional challenges addressed today to secure the future ……………………... 70
6.8 Conclusion to Chapter ………………………………. 72

Chapter 7: TOURISM BUSINESS IN BELIZE

7.1 Introduction …………………………………….… 74
7.2 Why invest in Belize’s Tourism Sector …….. 74
7.3 Investment Environment for Tourism Business Operations ……………………... 76
7.3.1 Fiscal Incentive Programmes ………………….. 76
7.4 Tourism Business Opportunities Today ………. 77
7.5 Possible Barriers to the development of business in the tourism industry ……….. 78
7.6 Conclusion to Chapter ………………………………. 79

Chapter 8: CONCLUSION

8.1 Conclusion on Findings and Suggestions ……….80
8.1.1 Summary of Findings and Conclusions ……………. 80
8.1.2 Suggestions .……………………………………………81
8.2 Further Studies ..……………………………..…. 82
8.3 Conclusion to chapter …………………………...…… 83