Norwegian to develop Belize port
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Norwegian Cruise Line is to develop a port in Belize after buying 75 acres of its islands.
The cruise line is to develop Harvest Caye into an eco-friendly cruise destination with a US$50 million investment. The land is made of two islands, Stann Creek and Toledo, which had already received permission for a resort and air strip.
Outlined plans so far see the site split into two, with one looking after docking/tendering facilities while the mainland will be a connection point for inland tours. Incorporating Belizean, Mayan and Garifuna culture, the destination will include a floating pier, island village, marina, transport hub, lagoon and beach area.
“As our fleet continues to grow to 15 ships by 2017, we expect that we will double the number of guests sailing on our Western Caribbean itineraries and, once this new destination is complete, bring four times as many guests to Belize than we do today,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and CEO. “In our quest to continuously look for new and exciting destinations for our guests, we plan to develop a cruise destination focused on sustainable design and eco-friendly principles that will retain the natural beauty and local culture of this tropical paradise.”
The cruise line will be working with Orlando-based IDEA for its design, with the agency previously working with Alaska, Florida, Saint Lucia and Jamaica amongst others.
“Rather than an imposed plan, we are focused on a design approach that is determined by the local environment to ensure that the unique surroundings and features of the area will be protected and showcased for all to enjoy,” said Hugh Darley, president of IDEA, Inc.
The new port is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs for Belizean residents.
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