BELIZE CITY, Mon. June 21, 2021– Last week, the Cabinet announced that the country would be resuming cruise tourism after more than a year of closure. The Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Hon. Anthony Mahler, told Cabinet that the first port call is scheduled to take place on July 7, 2021, less than three weeks away.
A Cabinet brief states, “In this regard, Cabinet appointed a ministerial subcommittee comprised of the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations and the Ministry of Health & Wellness to develop a set of COVID-19 protocols to ensure safe entry of cruise tourists to Belize.”
The Belize Tourism Board has also been actively preparing its members for the reopening of cruise tourism, even launching the BTB cruise app to ensure stakeholders are constantly informed of any relevant changes.
The Gold Standard program launched by the BTB adds another layer of security for both employees in the industry and the travelers coming to our country. All service providers in the tourism industry are required to have the Gold Standard rating before engaging in business.
Reports are that the first ship being welcomed by Belize is Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Vista vessel, which has left from Galveston, Texas, and arrives in Belize on July 7.
Reports are that at least 95 percent of passengers and crew on the ship have already been or will be vaccinated and a rigorous protocol will be in place for disembarking.
The BTB recently released health and safety protocols that will guide the reopening of cruise tourism in Belize. These protocols, which are in line with the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines, outline the safety measures that will be in place at each step of the cruise cycle.
Reports are that cruise passengers will be allowed to go on guided and self-guided tours and will be able to utilize any Gold Standard-approved service.
This first call to Belize and the effective reopening of the cruise tourism industry will mark the beginning of the revival of the tourism sector in the country.