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Country Commercial Guides for FY 2000: Belize Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Belize City, released July 1999 Note*

IX. BUSINESS CUSTOMS

BUSINESS CUSTOMS:

FOREIGN BUSINESSPEOPLE SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO FIND THEIR BELIZEAN COUNTERPARTS IN SUIT AND TIE. IN BELIZE CITY, BELMOPAN, AND THE DISTRICT CAPITALS, THE NORMAL BUSINESS ATTIRE IS JUST AN OPEN-COLLAR BUSINESS SHIRT OR A GUAYABERA SHIRT. NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR ARE FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 12:00 NOON AND FROM 1:00 P.M. TO 5:00 P.M., MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. GOVERNMENT FOLLOWS THE SAME SCHEDULE EXCEPT THAT ON FRIDAYS GOVERNMENT OFFICES CLOSE AT 4:30 P.M. APPOINTMENTS ARE PREFERRED AND PUNCTUALITY IS ENCOURAGED AND APPRECIATED.

TRAVEL ADVISORY AND VISAS:

A PASSPORT, VALID FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS PAST ONE'S PLANNED STAY IN BELIZE, ALONG WITH A RETURN TICKET ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER THE COUNTRY. NO VISAS ARE REQUIRED FROM CITIZENS OF THE U.S., UNITED KINGDOM AND ANY OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY. FOR SUCH VISITORS, A VISITOR'S PERMIT OF A MAXIMUM OF THIRTY DAYS IS GIVEN UPON ARRIVAL AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. DEPARTURE TAXES AND FEES TOTALING $15 MUST BE PAID BEFORE LEAVING FROM THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT OR $3.75 FROM EITHER OF THE SANTA ELENA OR BENQUE VIEJO BORDERS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ACCESS U.S. BANK ACCOUNTS THROUGH AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES (ATMS) IN BELIZE.

GIVEN THE MODEST LEVEL OF COMPUTER AUTOMATION AVAILABLE IN BELIZE, LOCAL EXPERTS FEEL THAT ANY EFFECTS STEMMING FROM Y2K BREAKDOWNS WILL BE MINIMAL. HOWEVER, THE GOB HAS INCREASED EFFORTS TO MAKE THE COUNTRY'S VITAL SECTORS Y2K COMPLIANT. THOSE SECTORS WHICH AFFECT THE TOURIST INDUSTRY, NAMELY CIVIL AVIATION, ELECTRICITY, HEALTH, BANKING AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS ARE ON THE PRIORITY LIST. SO FAR, OFFICIALS OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT AND BELIZE ELECTRICITY LIMITED HAVE ASSURED THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THEIR FACILITIES WILL BE COMPLIANT BY THE END OF SUMMER. THE BANKING SYSTEM IS ALREADY AHEAD OF THE GAME AS IT WILL BECOME COMPLIANT BY SEPTEMBER. HOWEVER, TO AVOID ANY DISAPPOINTMENTS, VISITORS ARE ADVISED TO BE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR SHORTAGES IN THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND DISRUPTIONS TO THEIR TRAVEL PLANS AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATE PLANS TO MEET THESE CONTIGENCIES.

MORE DETAILED AND UPDATED TRAVEL INFORMATION ON BELIZE IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE IN WASHINGTON, DC. FOR RECORDED INFORMATION, CALL 202-647-5225. TO RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION BY FAX, CALL 202-647-3000 FROM YOUR FAX MACHINE.

1999 HOLIDAYS:

JANUARY 1      NEW YEAR'S DAY
MARCH 9      BARON BLISS DAY
APRIL 2-5      EASTER HOLIDAYS (GOOD FRIDAY      AND EASTER MONDAY)
MAY 1      LABOR DAY
MAY 24      COMMONWEALTH DAY
SEPTEMBER 10     ST. GEORGE'S CAYE DAY (NATIONAL DAY)
SEPTEMBER 21      INDEPENDENCE DAY
OCTOBER 11      COLUMBUS DAY
NOVEMBER 19      GARIFUNA SETTLEMENT DAY
DECEMBER 25      CHRISTMAS DAY
DECEMBER 26      BOXING DAY

BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE:

FOREIGN BUSINESSPEOPLE FIND IT RELATIVELY EASY TO OPERATE IN BELIZE. THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH AND THE EXCHANGE RATE IS FIXED TO THE U.S. DOLLAR (TWO BELIZE DOLLARS EQUAL ONE U.S. DOLLAR). INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION IS RELATIVELY GOOD WITH DAILY DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM MIAMI AND HOUSTON. PORTS IN BELIZE CITY AND BIG CREEK HANDLE REGULARLY SCHEDULED SHIPPING FROM THE U.S. AND UK. INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ARE EXCELLENT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, SUCH AS ACCOUNTANTS AND ATTORNEYS, ARE READILY AVAILABLE. ACCOMMODATIONS RANGE FROM DELUXE HOTELS IN BELIZE CITY TO BEACH-FRONT RESORTS IN THE CAYES AND NUMEROUS SMALL LODGES AND GUEST HOUSES NATIONWIDE. ALL HOTEL GUESTS ARE CHARGED A 7 PERCENT TAX. THE THREE LARGEST HOTELS AND MAJOR AUTO RENTALS IN BELIZE CITY ARE:

HOTELS:

RADISSON FORT GEORGE HOTEL
MARINE PARADE
BELIZE CITY, BELIZE
TEL: 501-2-31234
FAX: 501-2-30276

FIESTA INN
NEWTOWN BARRACKS
BELIZE CITY, BELIZE
TEL: 501-2-32670
FAX: 501-2-32660

BELIZE BILTMORE PLAZA
MILE 3 NORTHERN HIGHWAY
BELIZE CITY, BELIZE
TEL: 501-2-32302
FAX: 501-2-32301

AUTO RENTAL:

BUDGET RENT-A-CAR
771 BELLA VISTA, NORTHERN HIGHWAY
BELIZE CITY, BELIZE
TEL: 501-2-32435
FAX: 501-2-30237

NATIONAL CAR RENTAL
12 NORTH FRONT STREET
BELIZE CITY, BELIZE
TEL: 501-2-31587
FAX: 501-2-31586

AVIS RENT-A-CAR
50 VERNON STREET
BELIZE CITY, BELIZE
TEL: 501-2-70730
FAX: 501-2-70728

HERTZ RENT-A-CAR
11 A CORK STREET
BELIZE CITY, BELIZE
TEL: 501-2-35395

TEMPORARY ENTRY OF GOODS:

THE BELIZE CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT ALLOWS TEMPORARY ENTRY OF CERTAIN ITEMS INTO BELIZE, PROVIDING THAT THE ITEMS ARE NOT MODIFIED OR TRANSFORMED WHILE IN BELIZE. BUSINESS PEOPLE TRAVELING WITH ITEMS SUCH AS LAPTOP COMPUTERS AND EXHIBIT MATERIALS GENERALLY DO NOT HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY IN GETTING A TEMPORARY PERMIT TO BRING IN THESE ITEMS INTO THE COUNTRY.

U.S. BUSINESS TRAVELERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE "KEY OFFICERS OF FOREIGN SERVICE POSTS: GUIDE FOR BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES" AVAILABLE FOR SALE BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS, U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20402; TEL. (202) 512-1800; FAX: (202) 512-2250. BUSINESS TRAVELERS TO BELIZE SEEKING APPOINTMENTS WITH U.S. EMBASSY-BELIZE OFFICIALS SHOULD CONTACT THE COMMERCIAL SECTION IN ADVANCE. THE COMMERCIAL SECTION CAN BE REACHED BY TELEPHONE AT 501-2-77161, FAX: 501-2-71468, OR EMAIL AT ALDRIDGEGW@STATE.GOV.