DATE: September 9, 1999

INTRODUCTION

Many countries rely heavily on natural resources and associated recreational activities for attracting international visitors. Nations have created extensive protected areas and enacted laws to control development nearby. But coastal resources worldwide, especially in warm water regions, are under extreme pressure from real estate developers and tourists themselves. The nation of Belize in Central America is one such destination that is both rich in, and dependent on, natural resources for tourism. The number of tourists visiting Belize grew over 131% between 1988 and 1994, one of the most rapid rates in the Caribbean region. Non-profit and government agencies have voiced concerns of the deterioration of the natural resource base by this increased visitation.

Researchers such as Lindberg (1990) and Morgan Stanley (1986) have investigated the history and importance of tourism in Belize. Both found that tourism is extremely important to the country's balance of trade and is either the first or second largest employer in the country. Lindberg found that Belize is uniquely suited for eco-tourism but not particularly rich in typical "sun and fun" beach vacations resources, compared to it's neighbors in the Caribbean region. Belize is perhaps most well known for it marine resources, coral reefs and diving, but it is well endowed with sub-tropical forests and Mayan archaeological resources.

The islands of Ambergris Cay and Cay Caulker are located just off the coast of Belize about a 40 minute water taxi ride from Belize City. The city of San Pedro on Ambergris Cay and the village of Cay Caulker are very dependent on tourism. Each is located within 1mile of the barrier reef and about 8 miles from each other. San Pedro is the country's largest tourist destination with extensive hotel and resort development. Cay Caulker, in contrast, is a quieter village on a very small island, with no large resorts.

Goals of this research were to identify changes over a three year period in tourist characteristics, facilities, impacts and the roles natural resources recreation plays in the tourism industry. To satisfy these goals both tourists and resident merchants were interviewed in San Pedro and Cay Caulker.

METHOD

Data for this study was gathered by students in American Universities International, Belize Study Abroad Program. Data reported here came from four winter survey sessions between 1996 and 1998. In each session two surveys were administered, a questionnaire for tourists and another for workers in businesses located in the central tourist district.

In the tourist survey students intercepted and then conducted a personal interview of non-resident visitors as they were walking on main streets in the community central business/tourist district. The survey asked about tourist reasons for visiting and trip characteristics. A convenience sample was utilized, with selection of an adult in the next tourist group to pass after completing an interview. A limitation of this approach is that no data was gathered from other areas at the destination, such as outlying resorts, and therefore, the sample may not be completely representative of all visitors.

The merchant survey consisted of personal interviews given to workers at all businesses located along the same central business/tourist district streets where tourist interviews were conducted. The survey asked about ownership of the land and business, prices of typical items for sale, their opinion about the benefits and adverse impacts of tourism to the area, and for commercial sites the status (excellent to poor) of sales. An attempt was made to conduct an interview with every business along the principle boulevards. During the interview period land use on all lots was also recorded. Since only employees, most often working in tourist-serving businesses, were interviewed these data may not represent all members of the community.

Analysis of data consisted of descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests comparing the two study sites and changes between 1996 and 1998. Data was aggregated to illustrate tourist and merchant perspectives on the influences concerns about natural resources.

RESULTS

A total of 226 tourist interviews and 342 merchant surveys were completed. Between 1996 and 1998 tourist arrivals to Belize grew 19.5% to over 147,470 (Belize Tourism Board 1999). San Pedro is much more highly developed for tourism with 78.4% of central district lots being primarily or secondarily tourist-serving businesses, compared to 58.8% in Cay Caulker. Vacant lots made up 4% and private homes 5% of the tourist district in San Pedro, compared to 28% and 11% in Caulker. However, Cay Caulker is undergoing land use conversion to more tourist serving businesses, with a significant (Chi Square sig.=.000) change in private homes from 36% in 1996 to 2.5% in 1998. Land ownership in both communities is about three quarters local Belizian, but San Pedro had about three times greater reported foreign ownership (16.5%) versus Cay Caulker (5.8%). Ownership in these central districts did not change significantly between 1996 and 1998.

Workers at businesses and offices in the central district were asked to describe the most beneficial things tourism has done for the local community. The benefits stated were a higher standard of living-jobs (89.7%), better infrastructure and schools (8.0%), increased protection of natural resources (1.1%), while almost no one (1.1%) stated tourism lacked benefits to the local community. There were no significant differences in stated benefits between the two destinations.

Merchant employees were also asked to describe if there were any large problems tourism had brought to the local community. Aggregating similar types of impacts showed significant differences between the two communities (Chi-square sig.=.000). Over 35% of San Pedro respondents listed pollution, shortages and infrastructure issues; 16% loss of control over growth, foreign ownership and access; 15% social problems, such as loss of sense-of-community and crime; and 1.8% deterioration of natural resources; while 29% said there were no significant problems related to tourism. Over 55% of Cay Caulker respondents stated there were no significant tourism induced problems, 15% listed social problems, 14% adverse impacts to natural resources and 8% increased prices for locals. Impacts that exhibited large increases between 1996 and 1998 in both San Pedro and Caulker were social concerns, while pollution problems declined.

The tourist survey results showed that at this time of year these destinations are very dependent on international visitors, with about half (53%) of all respondents being from the USA, 27% from Europe, 13% from Canada and 7% from Belize and other Central America countries. Caulker respondents were significantly more likely to be from Europe, young and coming into Belize over-land (bus). In contrast, 88% of San Pedro respondents fly into Belize, are more likely middle aged and from the USA. The vast majority (81.7%) of respondents, at either destination, were first time visitors to Belize.

Aggregating respondent primary reasons for visiting Belize showed that 41.1% could be considered nature-based recreation coming for recreation such as diving, snorkeling, fishing or hiking. About 20% were coming for the modern culture of Belize and shopping, 7.6% because it was low cost, while another 6.6% came for the beaches and developed resorts, and 25% for other reasons. There were significant differences in visitation motives between the two destinations, with San Pedro respondents much more likely to be coming for nature-based recreation (52.7%) and beaches and resorts (9.5%), compared to Cay Caulker respondents (29.4% and 3.9%). Persons interviewed in Cay Caulker were much more likely coming to interact with the people of Belize (29.5%) and visit because of the low cost (14.7%), compared to San Pedro (9.5% and 0.0%).

Respondents were asked to describe the one thing that detracted most from enjoyment during their trip. The most frequent categories of response in San Pedro were nothing detracted from their trip, (37.8%) social problems, such as crime, slums and litter (27.0%) and airport or road transportation (12.2%). This situation contrasts with Cay Caulker respondents who listed social problems (43.9%), nothing detracted from their trip (24.5%) and too expensive (13.3%). Less than 1% of respondents at either destination listed natural resources impacts or deterioration as detracting from their trip. Data suggests that at the more developed expensive destination of San Pedro tourists recorded fewer social problems, less concern with costs and were about 50% more likely to state nothing detracted from their experience. However, the percentage of San Pedro respondents listed nothing detracted from their enjoyment declined from 39.1% in 1986 to 21.4% in 1998, while levels have remained about the same at Cay Caulker during the same time period.

A final question asked respondents about their overall trip satisfaction. The vast majority of respondents at both destinations stated they were either extremely, or very, satisfied (83.8% at San Pedro and 88.7% at Cay Caulker). There were no significant differences between the two areas, or between 1996 and 1998. A crosstabulation of satisfaction by type of reason for visiting Belize found that in San Pedro 79.6% of natural resource recreationists and 88.9% of beach and resort oriented visitors were extremely or very satisfied. In Cay Caulker, 90.0% of natural resource recreationists and 75% of beach oriented visitors were at least very satisfied. Findings suggest that despite some things that detracted from their experience, well over three-quarters of respondents, including natural resource based tourists, were very happy with their travels in Belize.

DISCUSSION

Belize has experienced rapid tourism growth and both non-profit organizations and government agencies have voiced concerns about adverse impacts to the natural resources and cultures of the country. Do the perceptions of tourists and resident merchants also identify impacts to the country's natural resource base?

Study findings showed that the majority of tourists at more highly developed San Pedro were coming primarily for natural resources based recreation, such as diving, snorkeling and sport fishing, compared the most at Cay Caulker who wanted more often desired to interact with local residents. It is interesting to note that nature or eco-tourism is more of a draw at the developed location. But this may be due to the extensive availability of sophisticated commercial recreation companies in San Pedro, who offer diving, sport fishing and boating tours. Nature based recreation was still very important at Cay Caulker, but it was more likely one of many experiences, rather than the primary one, sought by the visitor. Another factor was San Pedro tourists were more likely to book a complete package of recreation and lodging well in advance, compared to visitors to Cay Caulker who came via bus and "discovered" the destination through guides and referrals from other travelers. The level of appeal for nature based tourism remained the same over the three year study period.

Respondents at both destinations overall were very satisfied with their experiences. This implies satisfaction with the condition of natural resources, such as the coral reefs, that drew them to Belize. When asked to describe one thing that detracted from their trip, less than one percent mentioned adverse impacts to natural resources. They were more likely to list safety, social and transportation concerns, than resource deterioration. One can conclude that tourists at both locations did not perceive over-use, over-crowding or resource deterioration as large issues during this study period. But over 80% of respondents were first time visitors, and had little basis for comparing past with present resource conditions, other than promotional materials and word-of-mouth information from friends.

Findings suggest that one can not rely on tourists, especially at destinations with most being first time visitors, to identify subtle adverse changes in natural resource conditions that impinge on the carrying capacity. Tourists may only be able to identify drastic changes in conditions, a situation that according to visitors at two marine destinations, had not occurred in Belize during the study period. But at an advanced stage of deterioration, changes may be irreversible or long term recovery needed.

Interviews with employees of tourist district businesses showed a consistent set of benefits to the local community from tourism. The most frequently mentioned were economic benefits, with only one percent listing increased protection of natural resources. There were no significant differences in perceived tourism benefits between the two destinations.

Problems in the local community related to tourism, in contrast to benefits, showed significant differences between the two study communities, over the study period and in the effects on natural resources. In rapidly expanding San Pedro problems were most likely to be pollution, shortages, inadequate infrastructure and lack of control over growth. While in Cay Caulker resident merchants were more likely to cite social problems, like loss of sense-of-community and crime. Social concerns increased, while pollution and infrastructure problems declined between 1996 and 1998 in both destinations.

Deterioration of natural resources from tourism was mentioned by only 2% of San Pedro and 14% of Cay Caulker business employees. This suggests that the majority of business persons in study area central tourist districts, like tourists, do not believe large adverse impacts to natural resources have resulted from tourism. However, caution must be exercised interpreting these results because some employees maybe unwilling to discuss resource impacts that could effect their future business, and results may not reflect beliefs of the overall community. Additionally, tourists, most of whom are first time visitors to Belize, often lack an adequate basis for evaluating environmental and community changes.