Central American country Belize was host nation and one of the big winners at the inaugural World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards recently.
Leaders in sustainable travel, award nominees, government officials and representatives from local organisations attended the prestigious event.
At the event, Belize was named Leading Sustainable Destination. Specifically, Belize’s Blue Bond, an innovative model that combines debt reduction with long-term funding for marine conservation.
This initiative is critical for building climate resilience and achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From a tourism perspective, the Blue Bond not only emphasises Belize’s pioneering and leadership role in environmental conservation but also strengthens the commitment of both the public and private sectors to sustainable tourism development in the long term.
Additionally, three categories were dedicated to recognising local efforts in sustainable tourism. These categories and winners were:
- Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project – Che’il Mayan Chocolate: the chocolate factory was established in 2010, to create organic cacao beans. Today, the factory produces chocolate bars in twelve different flavours and along with other delicacies, offering tours to tourists to learn about the intricacies of cacao cultivation, from the vibrant cacao trees to the harvesting and fermentation processes.
- Leading Sustainable Marine Conservation Initiative – Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association: a non-profit NGO that works in partnership with the Government, playing a critical role implementing sustainable management practices to support long-term health and vitality of the marine reserve.
- Leading Sustainable Community Engagement Programme – Belize Tourism Industry Association: Belize’s largest private sector tourism organisation, that markets and promotes its membership comprising of Hotels, Tour Operators, Restaurants, Tour Guides and related businesses countrywide. Advocating on behalf of its members to promote sustainable development.
Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Hon. Anthony Mahler, said: “We are incredibly proud of Belize’s achievements at the World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards. These wins reflect our nation’s deep commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism. Belize is setting a global example of how tourism and conservation can work hand in hand for the benefit of our people and the planet.”
