Belize's tourism industry continues to rebound from last year's global shutdown of tourism.
And airlift capacity is a big part of it - and with the tourist high season starting at thanksgiving - the flights started to sweep in this weekend - Alaska Air, and the resumption of Southwest Airlines from Denver.
For a tourism industry struggling to get back to pre-Covid form - the inaugural flight of Alaska Airlines was cause for celebration. And since it coincided with Garifuna Settlement Day on Friday - they were greeted by thundering drums.
Our News team was at the PGIA for the ceremony that was held last Friday, and Daniel Ortiz reports:
For Alaska's Inaugural Flight on November 19th, the Belize Government gave the Airline company and its passengers a very warm welcome.
The celebration of this new partnership included a toast, a plaque, and a specially-made cake. Even elements of the Garifuna Settlement Day Holiday were sprinkled in as a little "extra".
Hon. Anthony Mahler - Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations
"Today, we also are celebrating the first flight of Alaska Airlines to Belize. Airlift into a country like Belize, and any other country is a crucial part of the tourism product. As we say, it's the lifeblood, and over the last 20 months or so, we have seen that the tourism industry, the travel, and tourism industry across the world has been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. And so, this is a good sign for us today. I know the airlines' industry is going through a difficult time, and so, this is a signal for us here in Belize, that the partnership with Alaska Airlines is going to be a good one. This is a good start."
Kevin Lemme - Principal Market Strategy, Alaska Airlines
"Thank you for hosting us at this wonderful reception marking our first flight arriving in from Seattle. I think I want to echo the comments that the Minister made about partnership. And new air service to a new destination is about a partnership between the air carrier and the community that we want to serve. This partnership actually started about 20 years ago, when one of our employees was down visiting Belize, and when he was leaving, he was asking, 'Why do we not serve this place?' And about two years ago, it was your government, Tourism Board, community officials who came to us and proposed the idea, Alaska Airlines should come and serve Los Angeles, and it's this partnership, this really strong bond that your community partners have provided with Alaska Airlines that built this confidence to add Belize as the 4th country that we serve from the United States."
Kennedy Carrillo - CEO, Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
"The feeling that we felt the moment we saw Belize, and we knew that we were ushering in a very special flight with very special passengers. And when we looked out the window, and we saw so many persons waiting for this flight, really, it set our hearts on fire. And I say today, Alaska meets the Belize Barrier Reef. Alaska meets the Blue Hole. Alaska meets our beautiful archaeological sites and our beautiful tropical jungle. Alaska welcome home; you are home."
The Airline Company says that this new non-stop flight fits in with its strategies.
Kevin Lemne
"So, the Seattle Flight is going to be 2 days a week. It will operate from just before the US holiday of Thanksgiving, to just before Easter. And Los Angeles is going to operate year-round 4 times a week."
"Every winter, we want to add a new sun destination. We're looking for one that we think our guests will enjoy along the west coast, as well as one that we think that could have a good impact on the community we're serving. And Belize really fit that model for this winter. So, all this - this is the new destination that will be served from Alaska."
"We'll stick with the Seattle seasonal service and the Los Angeles service, and as booking stimulate, we will look at adding frequency or adding service from new destinations."
And from the Government's perspective, the net gain for the country is even more airlift capacity and global connectivity, which will translate into more visitors as the world's current hardship eases.
Hon. Anthony Mahler
"Today, we start again the relationship with Alaska Airlines from Seattle Seasonally, and then from LA four times per week. This will add tremendous revenue to our tourism revenue base. It is crucial for us to ensure, all across the country that we welcome our visitors with open arms, with the level of Belizean hospitality that we are known for. Alaska Airlines has been around, from my research, for a long time. And they're one of the leading carriers in the United States."
"Any time you add more seats into a destination, it grows the number, and that is what we're - our estimation, from the two additional airlines that we're getting, with the routes that they're putting into Belize, we're estimating somewhere around 70 or 80 million US dollar injection into the economy. So it's huge, especially at this time."
The Belize Tourism Board notes that similar inaugural ceremonies were held in Seattle, Washington, and Santa Monica.
Alaska Airlines hosted a Belize-themed event at the promenade in Santa Monica. This event featured chalk artists drawing large iconic images of Belize on the streets and live entertainment and music from Belize musicians.
