The Sustainable Tourism Program includes a physical development component offering tangible public investment in civil works as well as an institutional strengthening and capacity building component. Approximately 80% of total Program funds (US$11, 117, 000) will be allocated to component 1.

COMPONENT 1

Investments will cover feasibility studies, environmental assessments and final designs, resulting in civil works aimed at improving the quality of the natural and cultural tourism product within 4 key tourism destinations:

1. Placencia Peninsula and Village
   
2. San Ignacio and surroundings
   
3. Ambergris Caye
   
4. Belize City.
   

The main idea behind the selection of these destinations is town core development and enhancement to encourage longer visitor stay by the overnight tourism sector. The project aims to engage the local communities, providing spin off benefits to the residents, and catalyze further investment and growth from the revitalized areas. A key deliverable of Component 1 will be the production of an operation manual for each development in order to identify the best management option and policy framework to ensure future sustainability.

COMPONENT 2

A total of US$ 2, 403, 000 will be invested in technical assistance, specialized studies, training and other capacity building activities.

The primary focus of component 2 will be the development of:

• A National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan integrating a physical planning and strategic planning approach
  
• Detailed destination specific master plans for the key areas receiving investment under Component 1.

Other program areas under Component 2 include:

• Improvement in BTB technical capacity and private sector data access through the development of a comprehensive Integrated Tourism Data System;
  
• Capacity building in the emerging destinations of Hopkins and Toledo, with a view to diversifying the tourism product focusing on the Maya and Garifuna Cultures;
  
• Destination branding for the emerging destinations
  
• Development of a local Hotel Classification System
  
• Development of a Matching Grant Facility for micro and small businesses