The government of Belize is entering the third phase of a tourism reopening strategy and Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport will reopen on October 1, Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow announced August 28. On that date, open entry will apply for chartered flights, private aviation and the limited reopening of international leisure travel for visitors staying at approved hotels only. The first group of properties to reopen all will be “full-service” and have met the government’s new “Tourism Gold Standard“.
Editor’s Note: Announced August 28, 2020, Belize will reopen its international airport on October 1, 2020. Read more on Belize’s October reopening here. This article was originally published on July 1, with edits made on August 28.
Airport Entry Requirements
Passengers that provide certification of a negative test result from a COVID-19 PCR test done within 72 hours of travel, will be allowed immediate entry into Belize via a ‘fast track’ lane. Passengers that do not provide a negative COVID-19 test, must test upon arrival in Belize, at the passenger’s expense. A negative test result will allow entry into Belize. Passengers who test positive for COVID-19 at the Belize International Airport will be placed in mandatory quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days at the passenger’s expense.
Changes inside the Airport
The Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport also has implemented enhanced cleaning and sanitization measures:
- Installation of barriers and sneeze guards between passengers and immigration and customs officers
- Hand sanitizing stations throughout the terminal building to assist with proper hand hygiene
- Floor markers placed six feet apart to promote social distancing and assist passengers in lining up
- Sanitization of passenger luggage prior to transfer into the terminal building
Airport Departure changes
Belize reopens its international airport as Phase 3. Photo courtesy Maya Island Air.
Residents and visitors departing from Belize will also see new enhanced health and safety measures implemented. Additionally, some of these new measures include:
- Limiting entry into the terminal building to ticketed passengers only
- Mandatory use of face masks at all times while in the terminal building
- Safety barriers installed at check-in counters and the Immigration area
- Social distancing to protect passengers
For more updates, see our Belize Travel Advisory page.
