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Tonight, Belize is still free of the Coronavirus - one of about 19 countries in the whole world where its presence has not been confirmed.  

But, even though it isn’t here yet, the effects are being felt on a massive scale - especially in the tourism industry where layoffs have already started.  

Today, the Belize Tourism Board reportedly sent home a number of staffers in a cost cutting measure -  reportedly as much as 50% of the staff. Director of Tourism Karen Bevans declined an interview, but told us this via text message this afternoon: quote, “We are still meeting by Departments but the team is quite pleased. We have an agreed separation with a few of them for now, until Tourism picks back up.â€￾ End quote.

We are told that a number of employees have been given options to take that voluntary separation of a few months or more, or to be paid off, and move on.  Others have been invited to stay on - on the expectation that their job descriptions may change.  

But, whatever the case, with revenue from hotel tax on a sharp decline, the BTB is cutting its losses early, and some in the tourism sector say its premature in a move that suggests panic more than it does prudence.  

They add that this move makes it hard hard for the BTB and government to now ask hotels to keep their employees - even at cut wages - when the BTB is not doing the same.

As we have been reporting, hotel occupancy has sharply declined - and the projection going forward is for low to no occupancy.  That’s after the US Department of State yesterday issued an unprecedented advisory telling U.S. citizens to, quote, “avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19….U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States,â€￾ end quote.  A dire warning, but not unexpected in a world gripped by pandemic. The largest air carrier to Belize, American Airlines is expected to suspend flights next week Thursday.