Tourism Numbers on the Rise; Active Campaigns to Attract Travellers

Since travel restrictions have been lifted, there has been an increase in tourist arrivals to the Jewel. In an update, the numbers have been up to almost ninety percent of the pre-COVID figures and it is believed that the upcoming high season for the industry will see those numbers return and possibly surpass 2019 figures.  Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler says that they are optimistic about the complete rebound of the industry. Still he says that there are active campaigns to signal that Belize is open to travellers.

Anthony Mahler

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism

“Through the international airport we are about eighty ninety percent of where we were 2019. The borders are still lagging a little bit behind, but remember these things take time. We still don’t have the ADO bus coming into Belize through Mexico. And so we believe that by the high season of next year – January, February, March – we should be fully on track of where we were 2019.”

Duane Moody

“This is with overnight tourists. Let’s talk about cruise because I think that has been rebounding quicker than overnight.”

Anthony Mahler

“Well, overnight has been doing well. Cruise as well. But again, we believe that by next year we should be back where we were 2019. We are telling the world that we exist. There’s still a lot of areas in the world that do not know about Belize, places in Mexico that people don’t know about Belize; South America, Africa, Asia and so we are telling the world that Belize exists. We are a first class destination in terms of our natural resources. We are improving our product on the ground and we will continue to invite people to come to our shores.”