Blog #3 : Economy

Up until the mid 20^th century, the main export of Belize was a dye extracted from logwood.  As dies became more man made, the main export shifted to mahogany; a type of wood that dominates the market in top end cabinetry and furniture.  Although mahogany is still an export today, its importance has decreased dramatically due to the fact it is a very slow growing wood.  Today, the main exports of Belize, similar to many Central American countries, are sugar cane and fruits.  A majority of Belize is uninhabited by humans, so these exports primarily help the rural living individuals.  For those who don’t work on a fruit or sugar cane farm, tourism plays a large role in the overall income of the citizens.  In the year 2000, it was estimated that $133.3 million dollars were counted as total income from the tourism contributions.  The main reason Belize is an amazing tourist attraction deals with the Belize Barrier Reef.  This reef allows for the development of beautiful aquatic nature in crystal clear water.  I’ve been lucky enough to snorkel in this region, and it has by far had some of the most beautiful reefs I have ever seen.  Along with the beautiful snorkeling, there are also beautiful Maya ruins to visit as well as deep sea fishing and boating in general.  Most of the people that live in Belizean coastal cities are dependent on the tourism trade.  Above is a figure that represents Belize's dependance on foreign investments.  This trade is by far the most important economic relationship between Belize and other nations.  Below is a picture of the Belizean reef, the longest in the western hemisphere. 

sepmstrata.org

Sources.

http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/belize/

http://www.heritage.org/index/country/belize

http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Belize-ECONOMY.html#b
http://www.eclacpos.org/profile/profileByCountry.asp?country_id=6&country_name=BELIZE