To ground this analysis, we focus on a specific geographical "Belize link": the from Belmopan to Dangriga. This region includes the St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park and the Caves Branch River. Here, we conducted qualitative interviews (simulated for this study based on published surveys from 2022-2024) with 50 eco-tourists and 15 tour operators.
Ecotourism, defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people, has become a dominant paradigm in developing nations. For small island developing states (SIDS) and tropical nations, it offers a dual promise: economic development and environmental preservation. To ground this analysis, we focus on a