Yes for Mass Cruise Tourism

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Yes for Mass Cruise Tourism Belize, a country with abundant natural and cultural resources, an adventurous, loyal tourist clientele who is attracted to the plethora of eco-activities, a local population that embraces and benefits from tourism development and resorts, has seen a significant increase in cruise tourism in recent years has resulted in a debate about Belize’s future as an ecotourism destination. According to Terhorst and Ozturk (2011), “tourism is defined as a production system that is composed of an array of economic activities aimed at producing and selling tourist products, the tourist product itself and the institutions that regulate the system”. Tourism is a very fruitful economic sector in Belize but it suffers from a weakness of spatial perspective as, “The Belize Tourism Board has released its tourism arrival numbers for 2012. On the bright side, there is an upward trend in overnight stays, but numbers went down in cruise ship arrivals. But generally, the industry notes a ten point seven percent increase overall.” (Duane Moody, 2013). Mass tourism has developed and been defined as a centralized system which includes booking options that serves as a main source of profit leakage in the Caribbean. Although mass tourism may have a negative impact on our country, as it will only bring about seasonal employment, low job benefits and development of illegal and/or destructive economic activities, it should be allowed because it will bring about economic revenue, cultural preservation and opening for new jobs that requires little or no skills. In tourism, Belize receives different types of visitors which may be stopover visitors, same day visitors and cruise ship passengers. “During 1998 to 2009 period, the number of cruise passengers in Belize grew significantly from 14,183 passengers to 705,219 respectively.” Since the travel sector is important
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