Learning Center on Caribbean Weather and Climate

HOME    FUNDAMENTALS    CLIMATE    WEATHER    SOCIETY    SCHOOLS    ABOUT    NEW

Society - Economic benefits of meteorology and hydrology

Tourism and sea fare - Case study: Belize

The growing tourism industry in Belize has learned to use weather forecast products to plan their tours. Competitors now try to beat their rivals in offering their clients tours to locations that are most likely to have the favourable weather conditions for their product. This includes hiking trails, Mayan temples, snorkeling, fishing, river tours, beaches, etc. Since each of these are in a different location, accurate forecasts can result in a pleasurable experience for the client and the possibility of a repeat visit, while a busted forecast can result in a disgruntled customer and the loss of a loyal client.

Ship operators use our marine forecasts to plan the arrival of cruise ships since the tourists have to be transferred by ferries as the docks in Belize are too shallow for them to anchor on the piers. When the sea is too rough, these transfers become “exciting” and potentially disastrous. Esso Standard Oil imports all the fuel used in Belize by tankers. The fuel is offloaded by pumping the petroleum through pipes. If the sea is too rough this also becomes unsafe and operations are suspended. With advance knowledge of sea conditions, the arrival of these ships can be planned so that their visit is profitable, time is not wasted and operations can be more profitable.

Back to top of this page

Copyright notice and disclaimer: In cases when the origin is not specifically indicated, the copyright of the material of this site resides at The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH). The information contained within Cawedu.net is provided with the understanding that The CIMH makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability. The public is urged to use the information freely with appropriate acknowledgement of its source, but shall not be modified in content and then presented as original material.

Send email to meteorartyahoo.com with questions or comments about this web site. Questions concerning material, copyright of which resides outside of CIMH, should be directed to the institutions in question.