By the Caribbean Journal staff

Tourism to Belize continues to ramp up in 2018, according to the latest numbers from the Belize Tourism Board.

The Western Caribbean destination reported a total of 269,502 stayover tourist arrivals in the first six months of 2018, a 17.1 percent increase compared to the first half of 2017.

Belize continues to see rapid growth.

That rate is among the fastest tourism growth rates in the Caribbean so far this year.

Belize also saw a strong increase in cruise passenger arrivals in the same period, with a total of 629,684 in the first half, a 10.2 percent increase over the same period in 2017.

“Another exceptional increase in tourism arrivals is a reaffirmation of significant gains for our country that continues to be a growing, viable and a must-visit destination in Central America and the Caribbean,” the tourism board said in a statement.

— CJ