The first move Belize is making in preparing to restart the tourism industry is the re-opening the Philip Goldson International Airport on August 15, 2020. As that time approaches, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation has been working diligently trying to address the impacts of COVID-19. As such, the ministry is encouraging tourism stakeholders to follow a set of guidelines for the opening of the tourism industry after the pandemic. This set of measures/recommendations is found in a digital document titled COVID-19 Resources.
The guidelines were created for the strengthening of operations and the provision of tourism-related products and services in Belize. These guidelines go hand in hand with the plan of getting out of the economic shutdown.
Parts of the manual focus on measures dealing with visitors arriving via the land and air borders. It also focuses on the tourism sector, including hotel and restaurant guidelines focusing on adaptation, protection of guests and staff and enhancing sanitization. Key elements of the plan include social distancing and the washing of hands.
The document prepared by the Ministry of Tourism includes a section targeting the hospitality sector. The initial phase opening will see hotels with a Gold Standard Recognition certification. This recognition will require full services at the particular property and must follow a nine-point checklist. Some of these will see the enforcement of social distancing, the installation of sanitization stations and the development of a plan to efficiently manage potential COVID-19 cases among others.
In addition, the comprehensive guide provides resources on marketing, staffing, reinforcing and adjusting operations, likewise maintaining close communication with the customers.
To view the detailed COVID-19 resources manual please click HERE.
