Tourism Strategy Going Forward with COVID-19

Anthony Mahler

Minister Mahler says that he and his team have been looking at the strategy to keep international tourists coming in, but strict COVID-19 protocols must remain in place to ensure the safety of the country and its visitors.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“We have to be responsible as a nation. Eighty-two percent of the calls coming in to our 1-800-number is about COVID-19; what is the situation in Belize with regards to COVID-19. As a people, we have to be responsible, we have to social distance, we have to wear a mask; we have to abide by the rules and regulations that we’ve set in place. So it is critical that as a people, we do our part to curb the spread of COVID-19 and then will people feel that it is safe, you will see the numbers go up. It is a very fluid situation. We started with two flights a day—one flight two flight—and in December and January, we are looking at ten fifteen flights a day already. But like I said, it is fluid; the spike in the U.S. has created some issue for us as well, the spike in Belize. And so, it is almost on a day by day basis; yes the flight is coming, no the flight isn’t coming; that type of thing.”