Tourism Insurance to Be Discussed At Next Cabinet Meeting

Last week, the outgoing President of the Belize Hotel Association, Alina Saldivar indicated that the majority of the membership of that association wanted the insurance fee charged to visiting tourists to be done away with. Saldivar said that there has been consensus on this issue ever since the COVID pandemic slowed down earlier this year. In response, B.T.B. Director, Evan Tillett told us that the U.S. eighteen-dollar fee per person was well received. He said that it was implemented earlier this year primarily to mitigate costs to travelers and hoteliers associated with trip cancellation, emergency healthcare while in country, and unexpected extension of stay in country. But Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler assured us that the matter will be raised at the next Cabinet meeting.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“I have always said that once the time comes whereby we need to remove it, we would do so. So we’re having a discussion right now. There has been no Cabinet meeting for the last few weeks, but whenever the next Cabinet meeting is held, I will bring that up as well.”