Belize's land borders will reopen to foreign tourists on May 31

The Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations (MTDR), together with the Border Management Agency (BMA) and the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), announce the reopening of land and sea borders to foreign tourists wishing to visit the country for recreation and holiday purposes only.

Entry points will reopen on a phased approach, and in Phase 1, only tourists who have booked into Gold Standard hotels and been transferred by Gold Standard taxis or tour operators will be allowed to enter. Visitors must present proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival, or a rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV2 approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) taken within the previous 24 hours. All tourists, including those with proof of full Covid-19 vaccination, may be required to undergo the test at their own expense, at the discretion of the MOHW. Foreign travelers who test positive for Covid-19 will be denied entry.

The Frontera Santa Elena and Frontera Occidental stations of Belize will reopen on Monday, May 31, 2021 and the hours of operations at the borders will be from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, until further notice. The border points of San Pedro and Punta Gorda will also reopen in Phase 1 on a date to be announced.

The reopening of the Ports of Entry will take place in the following phases: Phase 1: Only Foreign Tourists (or travelers with special permission); Phase 2: Foreign tourists and visitors of friends, relatives and relatives; and Phase 3: Total reopening.

In the first phase, the direct transit of travelers from border to border (transit passengers) will not be allowed. The entry or exit of Belizeans, diplomats, military personnel, permanent residents, etc. it will continue in a restricted manner and still requires official permission from the relevant agencies.

To ensure the safe entry and exit of travelers, a new set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) is being implemented at points of entry that follow the strict health and safety protocols that have been successfully implemented at Phillip Goldson International Airport. , to include health and temperature control, physical distancing and disinfection. There is a mandatory requirement for the use of masks in all public spaces while in Belize, and all foreign nationals must comply with the laws.

The BMA will be the agency responsible for the coordination and supervision of the SOPs. Its implementation will be the responsibility of all regulatory and management agencies in the respective ports of entry, including the Ministry of Health, the Department of Immigration and Nationality, the Department of Customs and Excise, the Agricultural Health Authority of Belize, the Department Belize Police and the BTB.

The MTDR welcomes the safe reopening of our land borders to international tourists, as this represents another important step towards tourism recovery and overall economic recovery.