For Visitors which are the most important Businesses on SP

[pedro]

is it hotels
dive cos
web sites
supermarkets
gc rentals
condos
airlines
realtors

and so on

My vote is for hotels because I am finding out we pay silly amounts of tax,pay wages to locals,have restaurants/bars,bring people to the island-hopefully they have enjoyed themselves and that they will tell their friends etc.,and so more people come

[deadserious]

Probably in order...

1. Websites - cause the BTB doesn't know how to advertise and how else would people find out about SP?
2. Airlines (or boat operators) - cause without them we couldn't get to the island without swimming... and I'm not in that good of shape.
3. Hotels/Resorts/Condo rentals - cause I need a place to sleep after the long swim.
4. Restaurants - cause I eat a lot of food... 
5. Timeshare Salesmen - just kidding.
6. Tour Operators - not really for me.  I personally don't care to do all the tours.  I'm more of a townie...  but it's important to draw people in and give my wife something to do.
7. Supermarkets - see #4.
8. Golf Cart Rentals - for those days when you need to get out and explore DFC.
9. Realtors - cause after you explore DFC, you will absolutely get the itch to buy.
10. Poker Dealers - Probably should move this way up on the list. 
11. Drug Dealers - Personally never needed them, but their prevalence makes me assume that they are pretty important.

[JZB]

1. Websites.  These days no one goes anywhere without researching it on the web first.
2. Hotels/condo-tels.  You won't go there unless you have a place to lay your head.
3. Airlines.  Once you know where you want to go and stay, you need to figure out how to get there.  If its not by airlines, then bus, car, train, boat, depending on how bad you want to get there.
4. Tour Operators. Because you have to get out and about and see the country by someone who knows it.
5.  Restaurants/supermarkets.  I put this far down the list because I don't think people come to Belize because of the food.  Its good we have several good restaurants but people visited when the food was not all that good. (I lost 5lbs on my first trip!) If the French Laundry came to Belize (or similar) then we might become a Foodie destination.
6.  Golf cart rentals.  visitors would get along just fine with taxis and bicycles if that was the only option for them.
7. Realtors.  Since this list is for Visitors, realtors is low on the list. Most people don't plan on visiting a real estate office on their first visit to a foreign land.

Thats my opinion as a long ago tourist.

[Nova]

deadserious and JZB....I know you put restaurants in your lists and prolly MEANT to say restaurants and bars, but seriously dudes, you left out BARS!!!!!

[JZB]

So true!  Ooops.  #5 - Restaurants AND BARS.

[deadserious]

deadserious and JZB....I know you put restaurants in your lists and prolly MEANT to say restaurants and bars, but seriously dudes, you left out BARS!!!!!

Well...  You can drink at home while browsing the websites.  You can buy some booze while waiting for your flights. You can get some booze while eating your dinner.  If you decide to listen to the timeshare guys you can probably get them to buy you a drink.  A lot of tours have free rum punch. All supermarkets sell beer and several sell other liquor.

We're down to #7 on my list and I'm now way too drunk to visit any bars.

[clover]

DS  I think your list is really accurate....but you need to make #5 Bars and move the existing #5 to # 12....just below drug dealers

[ditchdocdiver]

1. word of mouth recommendations (or don't go there) 


* may be in person, or online, etc

[Moose in Belize]

1. Accommodations
2. Restaurants
3. Grocery stores
4. Liquor stores
5. Tour operators
6. Banks
7. Service businesses