As we've been reporting, overnight tourism arrivals for 2025 have been just about even with 2024 so far. And with the longest US government shutdown in history now looking like it may end soon, industry stakeholders are hoping that flight cancellations won't affect the start of the high season.
But, US President Donald Trump's immigration policies may have already done its damage to Belize's overnight stays. Arrivals in September were significantly down and part of the reason for that is that Belize American visitors who usually return for the September season may have felt reluctant to travel.
BTIA President Efren Perez discussed this with us last week via zoom:
Jules Vasquez
"What are your members seeing about 2025 as a tourism year so far?"
Efren Perez, President - BTIA
"Well, you know, I, I think that 2025 has has had its ups and downs. You know, and obviously I think when it came to the September and even from September up to now, the impacts from the US has really had, a story in terms of what has been transpiring. And, and really in September, you, you usually have your, your diaspora coming into the country."
"You know, having ICE now at the airports, from what I understand also, that has an impact. I mean, in terms of, you know, do I go out do I come in back? All of those little things, all of those elements play a crucial role in terms of the decisions the traveler is making in terms of coming out of the country."
