| And we also asked the minister about tourism projections. While last year showed record arrivals, the summer of 2025 is looking very soft- according to industry observers. Mahler explained that it's due to several issues but particularly the economic uncertainty in the US under President Trump.
Mahler warned that - coupled with a travel advisory from Canada - can have dire effects on the industry. He told us what they're doing to prevent it.
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism, Youth, & Sports
"Well, from the first five months that we've seen, we're up by 1%. May was a bit soft. And I think the next couple of months will be difficult, but, we will ensure that we do everything possible to and have the numbers don't go down or don't go down much at all."
Courtney Menzies:
"Does it have anything to do with the tariff wars or something?"
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism, Youth, & Sports
"Everything. I just got back from an investment conference for hotels, and the entire talk was about the uncertainty all around us and what that creates is it's a drying up of liquidity, and people's 401 K has been destroyed for the most part. And so they don't have that liquidity in their own lives to be able to take luxury vacations like what Belize offers."
Reporter:
"And you know that this week as well, Canada issued a travel advisory against Belize. How do you feel about that?"
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism, Youth, & Sports
"Well, I mean, there are times when these things are done for reasons other than anything happening in the country, because I don't see any uptick in crime. I don't see any of these things happening right now, but it happens. And we have to continue to navigate through all of that, so that it's not an easy thing to push an industry like tourism forward, especially in these troubling times of global uncertainties."
Canada issued a travel advisory for Belize on June 6th. It says travelers should exercise a high degree of caution due to high levels of violent crime throughout the country.
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