Hotels Want Clarity Before Taking Position on New Taxes

A proposed increase in the hotel accommodation tax is already meeting resistance, even though tourism stakeholders say the government has yet to put the plan in writing. The Belize Tourism Industry Association and the Belize Hotel Association have written to Prime Minister John Briceño seeking clarity before taking a formal position. BTIA President Efren Perez says the industry remains opposed to higher taxes but is ready for meaningful talks on how to fund solutions to urgent challenges, including sargassum and coastal erosion.

 

Efren Perez, President, BTIA

“So the joint letter that was sent to the prime minister was a letter that was developed between BTIA and also BHA and what we asked for is clarity. The reason for that is because what was presented was all verbal, and so we didn’t have anything concrete. And so one of the things that we need to do now is to look at what that proposal looks at, look at the general implications of that proposal and see where we’d be able to sit down with all the stakeholders. Obviously, we have had a resounding no to any increase in taxes from the industry, and that is very respectful. But we also have to sit down now and look at how are we going to collaborate together to make sure that we’re working towards the mitigation of sargassum, because that is a very important issue. Also the beach erosions that are happening in Placencia, we have that all present. But it really takes for us to be able to sit down, look at what is being proposed, and for us to come to the table with proposals that are effective and that will be of the benefit for the industry.”

 

Stakeholders also called for more support to tackle rising costs and growing environmental threats.

 

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.

 

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