9/21 Says Scrapping Israeli Waiver Won’t Impact Tourism Numbers

The debate over Belize’s visa waiver for Israeli passport holders is heating up. Some in the tourism industry worry that the change could hurt visitor numbers, but supporters of the petition say the impact would be tiny. Dr. Dylan Vernon from Liberation 9/21 points out that Israelis make up less than one percent of arrivals, even during peak season. He stresses the proposal isn’t about blocking entry; it’s about adding a visa and vetting process, which advocates say strikes a fair balance with national policy.

 

Dr. Dylan Vernon, Member, Liberation 9/21

“We are not stopping Israelis from coming, but they would have to apply for a Visa and be vetted. And secondly there are a number of Israelis who come to Belize. Is a very small amount, I think in the highest tourism month there, which is June or so or the month of the highest visits of Israelis. It was less than one percent of the total for that month. And overall, in terms of Israelis coming in for the past two years, it has been about zero point zero one one percent of the total. So it’s not that big of a sacrifice in terms of tourist people in the tourism industry might want to support this petition. But on the wider level, other countries besides Belize have been looking at this Columbia, Barbados and for example. And so it’s part of also an international awareness building to put a spotlight on the genocide that has been occurring in Palestine committed by Israel. And so there’s also an awareness aspect to it that we’ve been engaging in. And clearly, when we presented yesterday the petition to minister Kareem Musa, the new Minister of Immigration it was with the hope that the government of Belize, he will be taking this to cabinet. The government of Belize will seriously consider. That this is one more step that Belize can take. In addition to the very positive ones it has taken in terms of breaking diplomatic relations with Israel in terms of the ICJ cases, this is another logical step for Belize to go history as one of the states that was more supportive of the Palestinian people in their hour of need.”