BELIZE CITY, Tues. Jan. 11, 2021– After months of a devastating decline, Belize’s tourism industry may finally be seeing a silver lining, since the country has received a Safe Travel Stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). In a press release dated January 11, 2021, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) announced the country’s acquisition of the stamp back in December 2020 after our safety and health protocols had been extensively enhanced.
The stamp was introduced as a tool to restore confidence in travelers as well as revive global tourism. It also provides a service to travelers all around the world, as it indicates to them which destinations have adopted health and hygiene protocols that are aligned with the WTTC’s safety standards.
Belize has joined a number of countries, such as Dubai, the Mexican Caribbean, Barcelona, Jamaica, Mauritius and Saudi Arabia, which have received this stamp, and our officials in the industry are attributing this achievement to the Tourism Gold Standard Certification system which was implemented in the country in 2020. The Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Hon. Anthony Mahler, had this to say about the receipt of the stamp:
“Belize is delighted to have received the World Travel Tourism Council’s Stamp of Approval. The WTTC’s Stamp of Approval is a milestone achievement for Belize, and is truly a strong testament of Belize’s unwavering commitment to an environment which is safe, secure and provides an authentic and meaningful experience to our visitors!”
In its press release the BTB invited all stakeholders who have not yet applied for Tourism Gold Standard Certification (TGS) to do so.