Belize to re-open land borders on May 31

BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – Belize will re-open its land borders on May 31, but only for visitors with the authorities indicating that nationals will have to wait a bit longer in order to visit neighbouring countries.

Belize’s land borders were closed in March of 2020 as part of the efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Cabinet made a decision to open land borders for tourists only, beginning May 31 and that is for tourist only. So, it’s a phased approach where tourists will come in under specific conditions. It is not open for everybody. It is not open for Belizeans,” said the chief executive officer in the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Nicole Solano.

She said that the borders will not be opened to Belizeans, nor will they be used as in transit points.

“It is open specifically for tourists who come in under specific conditions.   Any tourist that has a negative COVID test similar to the airport, they can come in. They have to be able to show a negative PCR test taken within seventy-two hours of arrival, or 24 hours of arrival with a rapid antigen test.

“So if they don’t have that they will be able to test on arrival at the land borders. But they will have to be able prove that they are COVID negative to come in. Anybody that tests positive will not be able to enter the country,” she added.

The authorities said that phase two of the land border reopening will allow for foreign tourist and visitors of friends, family and relatives, while the third phase will be a full reopening.

However, there is no timeline on how long each of the phases for reopening will take.

“Basically we are looking at what phase one will require. We are working of course with the Ministry of Health, BAHA (Belize Agricultural Health Authority) there are several agencies involved that we need to work through the situation to make sure that it happens safely and in accordance with the protocol”

She said opening the land borders is not an easy task, adding “it is not something we are taking lightly at all. It has taken a lot of discussion.

“We have been trying to do it for a long time and it has been delayed. We are at the point now where we feel we can safely open for tourism, and that will be the first phase. Depending on how that works, we will then have a better indication of how we can move to phase two. If it doesn’t work, we also reserve the rights to close the borders down,” Solano said.

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