Belize: Opportunities for climate compatible coastal tourism

This publication presents a Climate & Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) -supported project, aimed to inform decision-makers by assessing the vulnerability of Belize's tourism sector to climate change. It further proposes solutions to climate-related threats, involving communities, tourism businesses, and the government.

Key messages include:

• The project used visual techniques including an interactive map to raise these groups’ awareness of climate vulnerability and to deliberate solutions collectively. This included embracing ‘grey-green’ infrastructure to guard against coastal erosion and flooding.
• Involving all these stakeholders encouraged buy-in and the uptake of adaptation actions, notably the Government of Belize’s decision in February 2016 to adopt an integrated coastal zone management policy and related subnational action plans.
• Mainstreaming climate change adaptation strategies within national policies and sectoral plans, alongside sound development planning, can lead to maximum returns.