Belize Grows Focus on Becoming a Medical Tourism Hub 

Belize is increasingly positioning itself as a hub for medical tourism, with a focus on integrating health services into its broader tourism strategy. In a recent interview, Minister of Tourism Anthony Mahler said, “Tourism touches a lot of other sectors, a lot of other industries, health being one of them. When people look at a destination to come, they look at the health services provided.” Mahler noted the necessity for a robust health infrastructure to support the influx of visitors.

Mahler acknowledged that while medical tourism in Belize is still developing, progress is underway. “I think we have a ways to go with that, but it has started,” he said, referencing the provision of dental services to cruise passengers and the potential expansion into cosmetic surgeries as part of Belize’s evolving healthcare offerings.

In light of recent incidents, such as a shark attack involving a tourist, Mahler reassured that visitor perceptions remain largely unchanged. He praised the quick response of dive and tour operators, stating, “They did a wonderful job in ensuring that young lady survived.”

Addressing the decline of cruise tourism, Mahler identified the lack of a docking facility in Belize City as a key factor. “In terms of cruise, uh, we all know that we don’t have a docking facility in Belize City, um, uh, and we’re working towards that. And that is why we have the decline in numbers because the bigger cruise lines don’t come to Belize and they bypass Belize because they need a docking facility and tendering is not an option,” Mahler explained.