Belize spotlights natural assets, sustainability agenda ahead of CTO conference

Belize is positioning itself as a leading sustainable tourism destination ahead of next month’s Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Sustainable Tourism Conference, with Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler inviting regional and international stakeholders to experience the country firsthand.

Speaking in the lead-up to the Sustainable Tourism Conference 2026 (STC 2026), scheduled for April 27–30 in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Mahler highlighted Belize’s diverse natural and cultural offerings while addressing delegates at CTO’s Air Connectivity Summit in Bermuda last month.

“It is our honor to host the next Sustainable Tourism Conference in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye in Belize under the theme ‘Tourism in Full Color,’” Mahler said.

He acknowledged that Belize remains under the radar for some Caribbean stakeholders, framing the conference as an opportunity to expand awareness of the destination’s tourism product. Among its key assets, Mahler pointed to the Belize Barrier Reef — the second-largest in the world — as well as the Great Blue Hole, three of the Western Hemisphere’s four atolls, hundreds of offshore islands, and a landscape that includes rivers, mountains and dense rainforest.

“You don’t have to go to Australia to have great diving or snorkeling. You don’t have to go to Egypt to see pyramids,” he said, adding that Belize offers a wide mix of cultural and natural experiences within a compact geographic area.

Belize has emphasized sustainable tourism development for nearly five decades, with eco-adventure forming a central pillar of its strategy. The country’s tourism sector includes roughly 12,000 rooms, many of them small-scale properties aligned with community-based and environmentally conscious models.

The 17th edition of STC, organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization in partnership with the Belize Tourism Board, will bring together policymakers, industry leaders and experts under the theme: “Tourism in Full Color: Integrating Blue, Green, Orange and Beyond Economies into Sustainable Planning and Development.”

The conference will feature ministerial roundtables, expert-led sessions, master classes and field experiences focused on the blue economy, climate resilience, and the role of cultural and creative industries in tourism growth.

Keynote speaker Pania Tyson-Nathan, chief executive of New Zealand Māori Tourism, is expected to deliver remarks on indigenous-led tourism development.

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Organizers say the conference will serve as a platform for advancing partnerships and practical solutions, as regional stakeholders seek to build a more resilient and inclusive tourism sector.