Belize Seeks Tren Maya Expansion to Boost Tourism in Northern Belize

The Tren Maya has been a major tourism/transportation project in Mexico, and Belize is seeking ways to benefit from it, particularly for the tourism industry.

Prime Minister John Briceño sent an official request to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. Briceño told the press, “This would bring many benefits to Belize. It could open a new market for tourists since those who come to Cancun are often from Europe… With the Maya Train, it would be much easier for them to travel to Belize.”

Similarly, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler, said this morning on Open Your Eyes that this would bring opportunities to the northern part of Belize, which are the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts.

But during the construction of the Tren Maya, the project faced many delays due to environmental concerns and legal challenges. When asked about this, Mahler stated, “With technology, there is a way to build out while still respecting the environment.” He pointed out that the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) balances tourism growth through its “cultural” and “sustainable” desks.

Mahler argued that Belize’s tourism accounts for “almost 50 percent of GDP,” and that expanding the Tren Maya into Belize can “have a meaningful opportunity for people to invest and make a decent living for themselves and their families.” 

In March 2024, former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador met with Briceño to discuss the expansion of the Tren Maya into Belize. Plans include a train station near Belize’s northern border.