UDP Challenges Government’s Hotel Tax Plan
A vacation in Belize could soon come with a much steeper price tag, and the Opposition warns that the entire economy could feel the pinch. The United Democratic Party is sounding the alarm over government’s proposal to raise the hotel accommodation tax from nine to twelve-and-a-half percent. UDP Chair Sheena Pitts argues that, when combined with new aviation fees and rising operating costs, the increase could make Belize less competitive and force visitors to spend less once they arrive. She warns that any slowdown would extend far beyond hotels and tour operators, putting added pressure on taxi drivers, restaurant workers, artisans and thousands of other Belizeans whose livelihoods depend on tourism.
Sheena Pitts
Sheena Pitts, Chair, United Democratic Party
“Government’s own 2026 tourism documents describe tourism as contributing approximately forty-percent of GDP when direct, indirect, and induced effects are included, and supported around thirty-five thousand jobs. Yet, we have a proposed accommodation tax to increase from nine percent to twelve-point five percent, that’s over a thirty-three percent increase in tax rate. We call for the proposed hotel tax increase to be suspended until government can publish An independent economic impact assessment showing its likely effects on occupancy, visitor spending, employment, and small tourism businesses. But I will go further, and I hope you can join me. Let’s demand that Honorable Anthony Mahler account for the tourism money. We also call for a review of the new domestic aviation fee and its cumulative impact on Belizeans. Tourism workers and visitors moving between destinations must not, absolutely not, be made to burden additional prices for moving inside their own countries, and tourists will get deterred from coming here.”
The UDP also called for an immediate review of fuel taxes and a plan to keep fuel prices stable for businesses and public transportation.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.