B.T.I.A. Asks Prime Minister and the N.O.C. to Rethink its COVID-19 Strategy
The Phillip Goldson International Airport is less than a week away from reopening and once again final preparations are being made to ensure that strict protocols are put in place where COVID-19 is concerned. Despite government’s best efforts, the Belize Tourism Industry Association wrote to the Prime Minister on Independence Day urging him and the National Oversight Committee to reassess its strategy going forward, in respect of tourism industry. The B.T.I.A. is already raising an issue regarding what will appear to be discrimination against tourists. This has to do with the segregation and isolation of visitors, notwithstanding those who test negative for the virus, while Belizeans who also test negative and are also staying at hotels will be allowed to move around freely. Executive Director John Burgos spoke on the purpose of the letter.
John Burgos
John Burgos, Executive Director, B.T.I.A.
“The main objective of the letter is that we wanted to let government know, the prime minister and the National Oversight Committee to sit back and really evaluate the regulations, protocols that are being put in place, especially the ones that are going to be focused on recovering our tourism industry, you know. We just want them to really sit back and analyze because when these protocols and standards are implemented they clearly stated that they’re going to be revised as the pandemic situation evolves. So these standards were developed in June/July. At the time we had a very, very good control and management of the COVID-19 pandemic, you know. But then in August, since August it has been, you know, all hell broke loose.”
Stewart Krohn
Stewart Krohn, Second Vice President, B.T.I.A.
“The COVID-19 situation in Belize is no different from the COVID-19 situation in the rest of the world. If you look at testing rates, the testing rates in New York are below one percent positive. The testing rate in Belize varies from five to fifteen to twenty percent depending on a particular sample. The question becomes who are we trying to protect?”
