P.U.P. Unveils Plan Belize Tourism Policy

John Briceño

The People’s United Party on Thursday night launched its Plan Belize Tourism in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. It will be a challenging task for any government to stimulate the tourism sector which accounts for forty percent of G.D.P. and thousands of jobs countrywide. But the P.U.P. says that its policy will effectively and successfully revitalize the tourism industry.  The P.U.P. plans to transform Belize in a first class tourism destination.  Leader John Briceño says that a P.U.P. government will invest in building and upgrading roads to new destinations. There is also the pledge to open the Placencia International Airport and to connect Caye Caulker to the national grid. The tourism industry is the country’s top foreign exchange earner and provider of twenty-five percent of the jobs. The P.U.P. recognizes that the Belizean economy has become dependent on the tourism industry, leaving the county vulnerable to any and all shocks. That is why Briceño says that if elected the P.U.P. will provide the highest level of economic, cross integration and environmental stewardship and responsible leadership in growing a resilient tourism product.

John Briceño, Leader, P.U.P.

“As it relates to the coronavirus, we will synchronize health and hygiene protocols and standardize measures to reduce the risk of infection while helping to rebuild traveler confidence. We will review and amend existing regulations and legal frameworks to ensure that they are adapted to the change requirements of the sector to facilitate recovery and growth. As Anthony laid out in the plan, we will build a first class tourism destination while at the same time maintaining and preserving beautiful Belize with a product that is recognize worldwide as one of the world’s best. We will do this so that Belizeans will be the key owners, partners and players in this industry. We have to make tourism a vital part of the Belizean economy for that is  the social justice way. We will do so by adopting the following measures. One, our COVID-19 recovery path way will reinforce and increase capacity for testing and screening to reduce exposure, for sanitization and ventilation and for managing risk, emergency response and engaging in contingency planning and execution. Two, through tax incentives and public private sector partnerships we will invest in upgrading roads to existing destinations and build new ones to new destinations and in five star hotels countrywide. We will invest in sewer systems in Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye, the hospital in Ambergris Caye and we will connect Caye Cualk to the national grid. We will open the PLacencia International Airport, improve emergency services in the south and build the Dangriga tourism village and pier to spur development. Three we will use technology to target new markets in Asia, Latin America and build in our tradition markets of Europe and North America to bring more visitors to Belize. Four, our national universities will focus on hospitality management to strengthen the capacity of current and new tourism workers and small businesses. Finally, we will provide the highest level of economic, cross integration and environmental stewardship and responsible leadership in growing a resilient tourism product.”