And while there is that slight relaxation in regs, the BTIA is pushing for much more.
In a letter to the national oversight committee dated yesterday, the Belize Tourism Industry Association says that all the stringent protocols in place for travel to Belize may deter tourists from even considering to come to Belize.
The BTIA gave a synopsis of the coronavirus outbreak and the impact in Belize in the last 6 months. The release then goes on to list a number of questions to consider along with recommendations. Some of those questions include:
- -With the state of Belize's daily new infection rate is there more of a danger from international tourists infecting Belizeans or Belizeans infecting tourists?
- -If Belizeans are at least as likely as tourists to be infected with COVID-19, why are we testing every visitor but leaving the vast majority of Belizeans untested?
- - By insisting on a complex set of protocols to even get into the country, might we be needlessly discouraging most tourists from even trying to visit Belize?
- - Why is it that Belizean hotel guests staying at the Gold Standard hotels as foreign tourists are allowed to come and go as they please, travel countrywide unsupervised and socialize with anyone of their choosing while the visitors are confined to their hotels?
The BTIA recommends to the National Oversight Committee that the arrival process at the PGIA should be simplified: If a visitor arrives with a negative test they are processed through immigration or given a rapid test upon arrival with results given on-the-spot or sent to the visitor or hotel. International visitors who are confirmed to be COVID-free should be allowed full freedom of movement around the country but require them to abide by the same COVID-19 health and safety protocols (and, if applicable, quarantine protocols) that Belizeans are mandated to follow. All tourism services providers should be required to meet the requirements for gold standard certification in order to operate freely. Lastly, a major campaign to enforce existing mask wearing and social distance rules for ALL people in country should be implemented. No discrimination - locals and tourists alike. The release ends by saying "We respectfully suggest that now is the time to re-examine our strategy. The above-listed recommendations are submitted with that in mind." We will update you as soon as the Prime Minister and or the NOC responds.
