The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) launched a public awareness campaign this week to remind owners and operators of guest accommodation services of their obligations and requirements under the ‘Hotel and Tourist Accommodation Act’.
Under said law, any owner or operator providing accommodation for remuneration purposes to any guest (local or foreign), regardless of its location in the country, is required to register with the BTB’s Registrar of Hotels.
Section 27 (1) of the Hotel and Tourist Accommodation Act, Chapter 285 of the Substantive laws of Belize Revised Edition 2011 states that “any person who, without lawful excuse, uses any premises as a hotel or tourist accommodation when such premises are not registered or when there is not in force a license granted to him by the Registrar authorizing him to use such premises for the business of a hotel or tourist accommodation, commits an offense and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both such fine and term of imprisonment.”
This applies to hotels, resorts, lodge or inns, vacation homes, guest houses, camp sites or bed and breakfast facilities, motels, bungalow apartments, home stay facilities, religious or educational and research facilities, dormitories or cabins, villas, beach houses or community-based tourist establishments. It also applies if you are registered with any booking engine or other travel agencies and have not registered with the BTB.
Being registered with BTB’s guest accommodation service gives the owner or operator the benefit of having a hotel license to operate legally and freely. This also contributes meaningfully to the sound development of the country’s dynamic tourism industry, as well as to benefit from the strategic plans and promotions of the BTB.
In order to encourage those to register, BTB is educating the public on the provisions of the Hotel and Tourist Accommodation Act, especially to operators of guest accommodations. You can register for the guest accommodation service by downloading the form from BTB’s website at: www.belizetourismboard.org/industry-sectors/hotel-licence/. Forms must be printed, completed, and submitted to BTB.
BTB serves as important link between the public and private sector in promoting and marketing Belize’s tourism product. For more information or assistance, please call 227-2420 or email: [email protected]
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