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The Belize Hotel Association hosted its annual general meeting today at the Biltmore Plaza in Belize City. The AGM served as an opportunity to meet face-to-face after a long time apart, and to share issues of concern to the six hundred hoteliers and property owners who form the BHA membership. Today’s meeting addressed the COVID-19 […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
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Travel |
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At the AGM today, Ted Tejada stepped down as president of the Belize Hotel Association; he had been at the helm of the association for the past five years. So we asked him about his experience and accomplishments in that role, while still carrying out his duties as the general manager at the Best Western […]
Written on July 2, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Ted Tejada, Outgoing President of the Belize Hotel Association
In a week’s time, Belize will be welcoming back cruise ships after more than a year. But is this a wise move in the midst of the discovery of at least one variant – suspected, but not confirmed to be the Delta – of the COVID-19 in Belize? That’s what News Five’s Andrea Polanco asked […]
Written on June 30, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places,
Regional / International,
Travel |
Comments Off on Minister of Tourism on Cruise Tourism Despite Variant in Belize
Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler, says the number of tourists arriving in Belize through the Phillip Goldson International Airport is increasing monthly and quickly moving towards pre-COVID numbers. This is good news for those in the tourism industry who have seen that sector shrink significantly over the past fourteen months. Minister Mahler […]
Written on June 30, 2021 | Posted in
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Travel |
Comments Off on Tourist Arrivals Up Despite Pandemic
As cruise tourism is set to return to Belize on July seventh, Minister Mahler explained that Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean are all preparing for a return with vaccinated passengers. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations “On July seventh we should have our first Carnival ship in Port. They are going to […]
Written on June 30, 2021 | Posted in
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Regional / International,
Travel |
Comments Off on Minister of Tourism Says Cruise Lines Will Return with Vaccinated Passengers
And while the new school year is set to commence in September, there are mounting COVID-19 concerns. What’s on the horizon is the return of cruise ships. A little over two weeks from now, Belize is set to reopen its cruise ports. But if the public has any serious concerns, the Minister of Health and […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on M.O.H.W. Preparing for Return of Cruise Ships
And while those are the minister’s response, is the low vaccine uptake in Belize a concern for U.S. travelers? North American tourists constitute a large percentage of Belize’s tourism revenue. Do they feel safe traveling to Belize currently? Here is how the Chargé d’Affaires responded? Paul Lopez “Is it of any concern to the […]
Written on June 24, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Are U.S. Travelers Concerned About Low Vaccine Uptake in Belize?
There was a handing over ceremony today in Orange Walk for the Belize Motor Vehicle Registration and License System. The collaboration between the Government of Belize and the Republic of China Taiwan aimed to centralize Belize’s transport services. The new system has been in the works for four years. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Youth, […]
Written on June 23, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Database to Bring District Transport Systems Together
The northern border has been reopened for approximately nine days and the agencies on the ground are confident that the protocols in place will allow for safe travel into Belize by foreign tourists. News Five’s Paul Lopez was given a tour of the Corozal facility today courtesy of the Belize Tourism Board. He got a […]
Written on June 8, 2021 | Posted in
Travel |
Comments Off on News Five Checks Out Northern Border COVID-19 Protocols
As we said, Ken Gladden is the site manager at the northern border entry point. His job is to ensure that there is efficiency; that protocols are being adhered to, and that no tourist is entering Belize as a COVID-19 positive case. There are standards in place, even for taxi drivers. Ken Gladden, Site […]
Written on June 8, 2021 | Posted in
Travel |
Comments Off on Travel Protocols Apply for Border Transportation Too
And finally from the northern border, the entry point sits only a couple of miles away from the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico where over two thousand positive COVID-19 cases have been reported over the last two weeks. While we have heard top local officials say that they are monitoring the situation in both Mexico […]
Written on June 8, 2021 | Posted in
Travel |
Comments Off on Border Site Manager Says Protocols Working, Despite Cases in Quintana Roo
Prime Minister John Briceño also weighed in on the reopening of the borders to visitors only. As you’ll recall, there was some opposition, primarily from doctors. But today, PM Briceño said it is all about achieving balance between safety and jobs. Prime Minister John Briceño “We have to balance as to how and where […]
Written on June 7, 2021 | Posted in
Health,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on PM Says Borders Can Reopen Safely and People Need Jobs
Copa Airlines made it is first flight back to Belize on Wednesday since the reopening of the international airport. This is an important air carrier returning to Belize, since it is the only carrier that connects us directly to Central and South America. Copa will be running one flight to and from Belize weekly, on […]
Written on June 4, 2021 | Posted in
Travel |
Comments Off on Copa Connects Belize to Latin America Once More
With Copa Airlines back, this means almost all our usual carriers have now resumed service to Belize. Alaska Airlines, the newest plane on the block, has confirmed it will make its first trip to Belize on November nineteenth, 2021 and Southwest should be back soon too. Nicole Solano, C.E.O., Ministry of Tourism & Diaspora […]
Written on June 4, 2021 | Posted in
Travel |
Comments Off on Alaska Air Coming in November; Southwest Return Date Not Yet Set
It has been five days since the reopening of the land borders and foreign tourist are slowly trickling in. But because these numbers are expected to gradually increase, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been on the ground monitoring the effectiveness of the protocols in place. C.E.O. at the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora […]
Written on June 4, 2021 | Posted in
Travel |
Comments Off on Land Borders Off to Slow Start: 10 Tourists per Day
Fortunately, no positive COVID-19 case has been detected at the borders so far. According to C.E.O. Solano, in keeping with proper protocols, however, the border agencies have had to deny entry to some tourists because certain requirements were not met. Solano told News Five that she remains confident that reopening the land borders to foreign […]
Written on June 4, 2021 | Posted in
Travel |
Comments Off on Tourism C.E.O. Says Coordination Working
The battle of the buses in Ladyville is a situation that the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics says is trying to resolve. As we have reported, tensions are rising between four bus operators in Ladyville over routes, scheduled runs and even passengers. Things got physical on Monday when one of the bus operators […]
Written on June 3, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Ladyville Is Not the Only Place Having Bus Disputes
C.E.O. Leal told News Five that his ministry is also working on policies behind the scene to upgrade the public transport industry. That includes getting bus operators to put more well-maintained buses on the highways and getting rid of broken-down buses. From a short-term standpoint, Leal says the focus is currently on the safety of […]
Written on June 3, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Transport Upgrades Coming
News Five also asked C.E.O. Leal about his new Chief Transport Officer, Diane Vasquez. Since her appointment on May eighteenth, the leadership of the Public Service Union has been critical of the choice. Former First Vice President, now President of the P.S.U., Dean Flowers believes that her qualifications, though extensive, do not fit the post. […]
Written on June 3, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on C.E.O. Comments on Chief Transport Officer Qualifications
If you’re looking for something to do this week or over the summer school holidays, the Belize Audubon Society is encouraging you to visit one of the national parks they manage. They have been certified with the B.T.B.’s Gold Standard and so the COVID-19 safety protocols are in place. While these parks and protected areas […]
Written on June 3, 2021 | Posted in
Environment,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Explore Belize’s Protected Areas; Special Rates for Belizeans
On Monday night, News Five brought you the story of Aaliyah Monima, a bus conductor in Ladyville who alleges that she was physically assaulted by a bus driver and a conductor from a competing bus line earlier that day. Tonight, we can confirm that the bus driver and conductor are being sought by police for […]
Written on June 1, 2021 | Posted in
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Battle of the Buses; Ladyville Companies Feud over Passengers
Belize officially reopened its borders today for international tourists. News Five’s Andrea Polanco stopped in at the Benque Viejo – Santa Elena Border today to find out how the reopening was going: Andrea Polanco, Reporting Pictured here are four of the five tourists who entered Belize through its western border today up to midday […]
Written on May 31, 2021 | Posted in
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Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Western Border Reopens with a Trickling of Tourists
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. […]
Written on May 31, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on Borders Need to Open to Bring Tourism Numbers Up
Getting your vehicle inspected and taking your driving test in Belize City just got a little easier. Beginning today, the inspection site has been relocated and there will be a computerized version of the test. This morning Belize City Traffic Department held a brief event to introduce these changes and talk about upcoming improvements to […]
Written on May 31, 2021 | Posted in
Miscellaneous,
People & Places,
Travel |
Comments Off on New Location for Vehicle Inspection and Digital Test for Belize City Drivers
Cruise tourism remains on hold, despite several dates for the resumption of weekly voyages to Belize previously being announced. The latest update on when Belize can expect visitors to disembark on its shores came this morning from Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations “Another important sector is […]
Written on May 28, 2021 | Posted in
Travel |
Comments Off on Cruise Tourism to Resume in August
