U.S. travel advisory can affect tourism industry

There is a reaction to the increased acts of violence and the recent spate of murders in the city and western Belize that has the potential to adversely affect tourist arrivals. The U.S. Embassy has issued a travel advisory to its citizens cautioning travel to Belize, and encouraging them to register at the nearest diplomatic mission and be vigilant to ensure their personal safety. This message on the face of it poses a substantial threat to the country’s Tourism Industry. Lloyd Enriquez, Registrar of Hotels with the B.T.B. reacts to the travel advisory.

Lloyd Enriquez, Registrar of Hotels
“I should tell you that the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation had convened a special security meeting and at that meeting we had representation from the Commissioner of Police, the Commander of the B.D.F.; Dario Tapia, the western zone police Mr. Paul Wade who is in charge of that area and we also invited the stakeholders from the Cayo area to hear their concerns, to listen to their concerns particularly in regards to crime and security; safety and security. So we’re already on the ground trying to see how we could find avenues to solve whatever issues they are having and I should tell you that out of that meeting a special task force was convened to look at areas how the private sectors, the community and those agencies could work together to mitigate crime in that area.”

The travel advisory comes on the heels of the gruesome murder of two U.S. real estate agents, Michael and Donna Hill, in Cristo Rey Village in the Cayo District. Since July sixth, when the couple’s bodies were found, there have been heightened military patrols in the area.