Borders Need to Open to Bring Tourism Numbers Up

Abil Castaneda

According to Chief Tourism Officer, Abil Castaneda, the threshold for recovery within the tourism industry globally is forty to fifty percent of pre-COVID arrival numbers. Castaneda argues that Belize would fall short of that threshold by double digits if the land borders remained closed.  He appeared on Channel Five’s Open Your Eyes this morning.

Abil Castaneda, Chief Tourism Officer

“In tourism we are all looking at how fast we can recover. What we are looking at is that this year in 2021 the threshold for recovery globally is that countries should reach around forty to fifty percent of pre-COVID arrival numbers as a part of the recovery process. What we have seen is that some countries are well on their way to that. But other countries are falling behind. In regard to Belize we are seeing some very optimistic numbers there. But P.G.I.A. by itself will not get us to the threshold where we can say that Belize’s tourism industry is healthy and back on the road to recovery. We need that element, that segment of our travel that comes through the land borders. Because as I mentioned the European traffic would use those not only to visit Belize, but the other parts of the region.”

Marleni Cuellar

“You said some countries are on their way to the target and some have fallen short. Where does Belize rank? What percentage are we at in terms of what is expected?”

Abil Castaneda

“Well we are anywhere between twenty to twenty five percent back. We actually seeing our numbers being very positive for the summer for travel. And even more so for the winter season that is coming, especially with the addition of airlift. So we are on our way. But when we run our projections, without the land borders we will fall short about ten to fifteen percent.”