BELIZE CITY — Belize’s Philip Goldson International Airport is set to reopen on Oct. 1, 2020, marking the resumption of the country’s tourism sector following months of closure due to COVID-19.

Originally scheduled to reopen in August, the airport was forced to delay its reopening due to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases. According to Prime Minister Dean O. Barrow, the new date will kick off Belize’s third phase of its five-phase reopening strategy, allowing for a limited reopening of international leisure travel with approved hotels only.

In preparation, the government has implemented the ‘Tourism Gold Standard’ Recognition Program, which recognizes tourism-related businesses that have adhered to strict health and safety standards. Hotels that have achieved the Tourism Gold Standard will be the first to reopen in the county, while gold standard-tourism sites will be the only sites that tourists will be able to visit during this phase of reopening.

Travellers heading to Belize must download the Belize Health App and complete the required information within 72 hours of their flight. They must also take a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of travel and verify their negative test result upon arrival. Those who do not take a test prior to arrival or who test positive will be placed in quarantine at their own expense.

For more information go to https://www.travelbelize.org/health-safety and https://www.belizetourismboard.org/news-and-gallery/belize-covid-19-update/#1584380395548-1362e13c-7bc1.

For more reopening updates from other destinations go to https://www.travelweek.ca/news/destinations-reopening-list-2/.