The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced a major anti-COVID measure which could have a major effect on Belize travellers to the US - including US tourists returning home!
Starting on January 26th, 2021, the CDC will require that all travelers who are trying to enter that country must have a negative COVID-19 test within days of travel.
This is to try and limit the introduction of new strains of COVID into the US.
The way it will work is that within 3 days before their flight to the US, air passengers will be required to get a viral COVID-19 test. The airline company will need to be provided with written documentation of that passenger's laboratory test result. Airlines must confirm a negative test result for all passengers before they board.
If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or he or she chooses not to take a test, the airline company must deny this passenger from boarding that flight to the US.
So, how will that affect American tourists coming to Belize since they have to go back with a recent test? That's what we asked Stewart Krohn, the President of the Belize Tourism Industry Association. Here's what he told us today in a teleconference interview:
Stewart Krohn - President, BTIA
"It's obviously a devastating blow. It's not just a blow to Belizean tourism. It's a huge blow to any country that depends on the United States to supply the bulk of its visitors. This is a radical development, and I think that the only good thing is that it would appear that the government, the BTB, the private sector organizations involved in tourism are working together to do everything we can to at least ameliorate the situation."
"What I understand the CDC is saying is that as of January 26th, any visitor to the United States, this includes foreigners - non-US citizens, and it also includes US citizens who may have left the country, and want to come back. So, this comprises all of us, who live in Belize, and for the moment, more importantly, those potential visitors who want to leave the United States to come to Belize, and then go back to the United States. What the CDC is saying is that when you want to go back to the United States, you have to show to the airline, before you board on your trip, that you have had a COVID-19 test, within 72 hours - I believe - of your flight back to the United States. Otherwise, if you don't have that test and written or electronic proof of a negative test, you will not be allowed to board the plane in the country that you're traveling from."
"The problem is that up until this point, Belize's testing abilities have been somewhat limited. And even when you can get a test, there is a significant cost associated with it. So, the result is that it further complicates the ability for a US tourist to even think about coming to Belize, because first you got to get your US PCR test before you can come to Belize, or you're advised to do that, and then, when you gotta go back, you've gotta rely on things that may be outside of your control to get your test to be able to go back into the United States. So, there is no doubt about it, it is going to adversely affect the number of visitors that are going to come to Belize and other parts of the Caribbean, at least until the CDC changes this rule."
"One of the key things, of course, will be price. I think we're looking now at prices ranging from maybe $125-$150 Belize per test. You look at a family of 4, however, and that's a lot of money. So, hopefully, competition within the private sector will bring those prices down. Maybe, there's a way to subsidize them a little bit. I don't think we've gotten that far yet. We're just getting reservations, and the industry cannot afford cancellations."
This evening, the Belize Tourism Board sent out a press release saying that they're ready to respond. The release, says, quote, "In response to this new requirement, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), after consultation with the Belize Ministry of Health and Wellness hereby confirms that testing will be expanded and made available to all passengers departing Belize for the U.S. Further details including cost and testing locations across the country are being determined. All individuals who plan to visit Belize can therefore proceed with their travel plans. The Belize Tourism Board recognizes that US travelers account for approximately 70% of visitors to Belize. We will continue to be guided by health protocols to welcome all visitors and ensure a safe experience from arrival to departure."
