Outgoing President of Belize Hotels Association Says Members Want Tourism Insurance Gone.

Saldivar said the Association received a lot of support from the Belize Tourism Board throughout her tenure as president, and while they were approachable and receptive to her and the association, there is one thing the hoteliers would like to see disappear – the tourism insurance.

Alina Saldivar

Alina Saldivar, Outgoing President, Belize Hotels Association

“Sometimes it was my job to really sit with them and say some of the protocols that they had to set in place when all of us were trying to navigate the pandemic. So it was my job to really go and sit with them and say this isn’t very inclusive, noh. But with all that, it was a wonderful relationship. They were very approachable, very receptive to me. The hotels are ready for the insurance to disappear. And that is no secret. That has been the case ever since COVID slowed down earlier this year that has been the consensus.”

But while the BHA outgoing President says this is the case, Director of the Belize Tourism Board, Evan Tillett, says they have received nothing to indicate this. Tillett wrote to us via a WhatsApp message on the matter: “The mandatory Belize Health Insurance, which is an affordable eighteen U.S. dollars per person, was implemented earlier this year primarily to mitigate costs to travelers and hoteliers associated with trip cancellation, emergency healthcare while in country, and unexpected extension of stay in country. All indications are that it has been well received and very beneficial for travelers, hoteliers and healthcare facilities. We continue to evaluate it to determine the effectiveness for all stakeholders involved.”