Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) (http://www.ecotourismconference.org/) presentation by Megan Epler Wood, Director, Planeterra Foundation, presented in September 2011. Organized by The International Ecotourism Society (http://www.ecotourism.org), the ESTC is a unique annual conference providing practical solutions to advance sustainability goals for the tourism industry.

1. This presentation was presented at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2011 (ESTC 2011), held in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA, from September 19th-21st. Organized by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the ESTC is a unique annual conference providing practical solutions to advance sustainability goals for the tourism industry. Learn more about the ESTC: http://www.ecotourismconference.org ESTC on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ESTC_Tourism ESTC on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESTC.Tourism The International Ecotourism Society | web www.ecotourism.orgemail info@ecotourism.org | tel +1 202 506 5033

2. Destination Management Developing Next Generation Tools A Collaborative Initiative: Belize Tourism Board, Planeterra Foundation, Cornell Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise

4. The range of destination management issues is broad

5. Emerging destinations

6. Partially developed

8. Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange for 47 of the 50 Least Developed CountriesChallenges to Destinations are Growing in Developing Countries

10. Inadequate infrastructure to service a growing destination a consistent problem

11. Lack of water and waste services a chronic issue

12. Lack of education programs for tourism service community chronic

13. Inability to manage growth and land-use planning as an effective tool chronicDestinations Next Steps Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Entry Way, Mexico

17. Tax System

18. National

19. Municipal

21. Tourism Expenditures 22% of GDP in 2010 One in seven jobs related or driven by tourism WTTC Forecast Role of Tourism in Belize Economy

23. Crank up visitor numbers

24. Attract condominium and real estate development

25. Keep cruise traffic growing

26. Build growing day tour market for cruise

27. Market Belize primarily via trade shows and print

28. New Paradigm

29. Double expenditure per visitor

30. Demonstrate value of Belize’s destinations for higher value professional tourism investors

31. Create top attraction in Belize City

32. Use Revamped Digital Marketing focusMoving Belize to mid-priced and above market niche

33. Belize Tourism Board ActionPlan 2010-2012

34. Radical Changes to Marketing Strategy Destination Planning Quality Assurance Greater Efficiencies to BTB Operations BTB Action Plan Mandates

35. Need to Arrest Problematic Development Patterns Knowledge Management System to Support Long-Term Planning Moving toward informed national and municipal decision making Developing Belize as High Value Investment Opportunity San Pedro Knowledge Management Tool

36. Megan Epler Wood Planeterra Foundation http://www.planeterra.org For more information