Traveling internationally during COVID-times is more expensive than ever before - and that's because of the mandatory COVID tests that have to be taken before entering any new country.
And now, the Belize Tourism Board is adding another charge to that. Effective February 15th, the BTB will be implementing a mandatory 18 US dollar per head Traveler Health Insurance for every visitor arriving in Belize.
At a conservative 300,000 visitors per year - that's a cool 5.4 million US dollars annually going into the accounts of some insurance company, or companies.
And while the skeptical observer may look at it as an enrichment scheme, the BTB says it's the right choice at the right time. The $18 USD provides coverage for up to $50,000 USD in medical expenses for COVID-19 treatment for a period of 21 days. It will also cover lodging expenses - for those who test positive for COVID right before they're supposed to return to their country of origin and are forced to quarantine in Belize.
So, proponents say that for 18 US dollars, it's a great marketing boon to make guests feel secure.
Today, the Director of Tourism, Evan Tillett told us about the insurance's price point and the extent of its coverage:
Evan Tillet - Director of Tourism, BTB
"The price point is at 18 US dollars and it covers you for 21 days and a total coverage a maximum of 50,000 US dollars it will cover each foreigner or guest that comes into the country."
Cherisse Halsall
"Now you said that this is rather affordable but travel to Belize is already more expensive than anywhere else in the region and if you're a single person, I agree it's rather affordable but once you start traveling in a family or an excursion, this price could prove a deterrent to come into Belize."
Evan Tillet
"I don't think it will be a deterrent to come into Belize. Of course there is an additional cost but the benefits of the travel insurance plan really makes the difference. In the time when we have omicron and things are so erratic, I think that it provides the visitor with a sense of safety as well as it protects the industry. It protects the industry because the insurance policy also includes a trip cancellation, so if a guest in the US that's traveling to Belize gets sick and can't come, typically what would happen is the hotel will have to reimburse that guest for the travel, this insurance policy will cover, so the hotels in Belize won't have to refund that money, the insurance company will actually refund that money, so it's an added benefit and it also puts Belize out there as a safe destination."
Cherisse Halsall
"So of course we have to wonder, we've seen medical staff have to go out to cruise ships to bring in people that are ill and we expect that Belizean hospitals can be burden with tourists who fall ill in Belize. This is really protection mechanism for our government is it?"
Evan Tillet
"It is a protection mechanism for the government, for the health system, for the industry on a whole, both the visitor and the Belizeans. It provides a level of care that so the government would not have to take up that expense in terms of caring for a patient who cannot afford to pay their hospitalization or their hospital bill."
Cherisse Halsall
"It is rumored that this insurance will be provided through ICB, so I have to ask is there any particular business interest that has driven this?"
Evan Tillet
"It will be provided by ICB but it is not a situation where there is a monopoly, any insurance company that is interested in being part of the travel insurance program can apply and be a part of the program."
Cherisse Halsall
"Now let's take a look at the numbers for a minute because you said 18 dollars per visitor, over 300,000 visitors per year on average, which would amount to almost 5 million Belize dollars every year, linking to my previous question, somebody is making that revenue."
Evan Tillet
"Well you have to look at the protection that it provides, that is the most important thing. In the environment where omicron is spreading across the globe, we have to think about tourism represents 40% in terms of the GDP of this country and so we must protect our industry. If we are to go back to the days where we lock down, we cannot afford, all we are doing is creating additional poverty in this country and so we in tourism are concerned about the safety and economic benefit to the Belizean people and I think that is the important thing that we need to look, not the issue of what the service provider makes. The feedback we have gotten in some cases is that they welcome the insurance because of the protection and the ability to ensure that the hotels get the benefit of the policy that's in place."
Travelers can purchase the Belize Travel Health Insurance prior to their travel to Belize or they can do so when they arrive at the PGIA or at Belize's land borders. To be clear, Belizeans, permanent residents and travelers with Long Stay status are exempted.
