Tourism arrivals have been on a major decline this year and now industry stakeholders are hoping the industry can get a much needed shot in the arm with the help of some major network coverage from the United States. The NBC Today Show was aired live from Belize this morning with host Matt Lauer at the Blue Hole. It’s a programming block called "The Ends of the Earth," part of NBC Universal's "Green Week," which raises awareness about climate change and endangered environments. The program's four chief personalities are in different parts of the world illustrating environmental threats. Here’s a part of Lauer’s live morning report from the Blue Hole.

[Excerpts]
Matt Lauer, Today Show Anchor
“I am in the middle of the Caribbean Sea about 50 miles off the coast of Belize and what is called the Blue Hole. It is probably the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and there is great concern that large portions of it are dying. It is a place where only the heartiest marine life survives. It is an extraordinary geological phenomenon.

Fabian Custo is a third generation ocean explorer. Because your family has such a history here with your grandfather introducing this to the world, is it different for you to come back here?”

Fabian Custo,
“It is always a magical place because every time I see it, it is one of those few places that haven’t really changed.”

Matt Lauer,
“The Government of Belize is taking this very seriously. They are trying to take steps to make sure they don’t ruin this precious natural resource.

You’ve got the longest reef in the Western Hemisphere. What does it do for this area?”

Melanie McField, Marine Scientist
“It allows Belize to exist basically. We are a country that is totally dependent on the reef.”

Matt Lauer,
“You’ve grown up in this area, in Belize. What changes in the environment have you seen over the last decade or so?”

Marine Scientist
“Well it is just amazing. We’ve seen coral reefs just decline. It has replaced with algae. We are seeing decreased numbers of fish population. There is just a lot of changes happening and it is happening very quickly.”

Announcer,
“Belize like a growing number of other less developed countries has discovered tourists who live in concrete canyons along traffic clogged highways will pay and pay well to see, feel, and taste Mother Nature…a total of 250,000 tourists now visit this tiny country every year.”

“At the rate we’re going if there is not a well developed parameter, then unfortunately there is just not going to be anywhere to keep it in a sense of ecological rather than just tourism.”

The Belize segment continues tomorrow morning.