Belize Tourism Board Announces the Official Launch of National Tourism Security Strategy

Belize City, Belize, August 13, 2025: The Belize Tourism Board (BTB), in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Youth and Sports, and Diaspora Relations, proudly announces the official launch of the National Tourism Security Strategy 2025–2030. The formal unveiling took place at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the Belize House of Culture in Belize City.

This landmark five-year strategy marks a pivotal moment in Belize’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety, security, and resilience of its thriving tourism industry. The strategy establishes a robust and coordinated national framework designed to mitigate risks to tourists, protect the tourism product, and enhance visitor confidence, across both urban centers and remote destinations.

“This strategy reflects Belize’s commitment to delivering a safe, secure, and world-class tourism experience,” said Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations. “It brings together security forces, government agencies, industry stakeholders, and our communities in one unified effort to protect what we have built and prepare for the future.”

Key Objectives of the Strategy:

• Strengthening the Tourism Police Unit (TPU) by increasing personnel by 60% over five years.
• Formalizing a multi-agency Tourism Safety Forum for oversight and joint decision-making.
• Deploying mobile enforcement teams across tourism corridors and high-risk zones.
• Upgrading infrastructure, including lighting, surveillance, and communications systems at key sites.
• Mandating disaster and emergency contingency planning for all tourism operators.
• Enhancing training and capacity-building across all levels of the tourism security ecosystem.

The strategy directly supports national policy directives outlined in the National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2030, the National Tourism Policy (2017), and Plan Belize (2020–2025)—all of which recognize security as a cornerstone of sustainable tourism development. Stakeholders from tourism, law enforcement, diplomatic, and private sectors are invited to attend the launch, which will serve as a call to action for ongoing collaboration and shared responsibility in securing Belize’s tourism future.

“Our vision is clear,” said Mr. Evan Tillett, Director of Tourism. “Belize will provide a safe and secure visitor experience that fuels economic growth, protects our cultural and environmental assets, and builds international confidence in our destination.”

The launch featured presentations from senior government officials, strategy architects, and security sector leaders. The full strategy document will be publicly available following the event.