The Phillip Goldson airport is privately managed now - and the new owners have decreed an increase in departure tax.
Effective April 4th, visitors departing the airport will now have to pay a $60 departure fee. That's an increase of 33% percent from where it was set previously at $45. So now with the $7.50 PACT fee, and $2.50 Security charge, visitors departing the country will pay a total of $70, while Belizeans will continue to pay $30.
It does make Belize more expensive to visit, but airport higher-ups point out that this fee is still lower than other airports in the region. Departure tax is the number one source of revenue form the airport and the private managers have planned increases for landing and concession fees to be implemented over the next 7 years.