| And while we'll only need our vax card to cross, tourists who want to come into Belize via air travel and land will need to purchase traveler's insurance starting on February 15th. And while some stakeholder groups have backed this decision, 15 of the major hotels in Belize - including Chaa Creek, Blancaneaux Lodge, Turtle Inn, Alaia, and more - have sent a letter to the minister in protest of the new requirement. They say that other countries in the region are relaxing their restrictions while Belize is doubling down on strict measures, and this might put the country at a disadvantage compared to its competition. We asked the Minister of Tourism about this today and he explained that out of the 900 hotels in the country, they can't stop and drop everything just for 15 of them.
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"We haven looked at this thing for some time, we were in a position where Omicron was ranging all over the place, there were a lot of cancellations and so we're trying to help to protect the industry. We have almost 900 properties throughout this country, and most of them are under ten rooms, and most of them after 2 years of being devastated by COVID are on the brink and so we have to ensure that not only big players survive but also small players."
Courtney Menzies:
"But our competition in the region, they're opening up more, so don't you think that puts Belize back like people might not want to come here as much?"
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"What do you mean by opening up?"
Courtney Menzies:
"Like Costa Rica is saying you only need a vaccination, you don't need a test or any of that."
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"And we'll get there, we are in constant communication with the Ministry of Health but there are many,, many countries around this world that do require insurance to go in and that is still a reality. I speak to ministers who still have that requirement as a part of the protocols for entering that country."
Courtney Menzies:
"Some of those hotels are saying that bookings are being cancelled or sold because there is no portal available yet, because it's something come in on the 15th, I believe, the insurance, but there's no portals, there's no structure, there's nothing to tell the tourists what to do so now they're cancelling their bookings."
Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
"I don't think agree with that, I really don't agree. If that is the case, then we'll have to talk to those properties, but as I understand it, the portal should be up by early next week so well in advance of the February 15th launch date."
"We have tour operators committed, we have tour guides committed, we have air line committed, we have members of BTIA and BHI on our board, w consult with the NGO community… we should be dictated by 15 hotels?"
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