Compared to its more famous Caribbean neighbours, Belize is an undiscovered gem. This small country of 400,000 inhabitants has long been preserved from unbridled tourism. But today, this Central American paradise is in danger.
Investors are buying up islands in droves to develop luxurious resorts and attract travellers in search of the exotic. Its coral reefs, the second largest in the world, are directly threatened. Aided by corrupt authorities, the new tourism mafia have even resorted to the assassinations of those who oppose them..
In just a few years, Belize has also become a hub for international drug trafficking. With tourism development benefiting only a tiny proportion of the population, some Belizeans have fallen into the clutches of drug traffickers in order to survive. The capital, Belize City, has become one of the most dangerous cities in the world.