Easter Arrivals Increase as Western Border Sees Sharp Jump in Traffic

Belize recorded an overall increase in visitor arrivals during the Easter weekend this year, with new figures from the Ministry of Immigration, Governance and Labour showing not only growth, but a noticeable shift in how travelers entered the country.  According to the data, total arrivals climbed to twenty-four thousand, five hundred and twenty in 2026, up from just over twenty-three thousand recorded during the same period last year, an increase of five-point-five percent.  While the numbers, however, are up overall, the breakdown tells a more detailed story.  At the land borders, arrivals at the western border in Benque Viejo del Carmen saw a significant increase, rising by more than twenty-eight percent to just over seven thousand entries. Meanwhile, the northern border at Corozal experienced a sharp decline, dropping by nearly twenty-four percent.  Director of Immigration, Lawrence Thompson, explained the movement in numbers across both borders and the Philip Goldson International Airport.

Lawrence Thompson, BMIS Director: “This data would steer you to where it demonstrates that Belizeans increase their traffic through the Western border and decrease their traffic through the Northern border. We also saw an increase of 20% of Belizean travelers coming in through our PGIA port. This went from 2025 where we had 760 travelers to 2026 where we now have 925 Belizean travelers entering to that Philip Goldson International Airport. To make a comparison, in general, there is a huge increase at the Philip Goldson in general with all nationalities. Where in 2025, we had 6,366 passengers generally, all nationalities coming through that port. And now in 2026, there’s an increase of 8,735 passengers coming through that port. So there is a generally high increase in passengers of all nationalities coming through that port. But of interest also is the 20% of increase in Belizean travelers from last year.”

Despite the dip at the northern crossing, the gains at the western border helped offset some of that decline, though total land border traffic still fell slightly compared to last year.  Meanwhile, the biggest surge came through the Philip Goldson International Airport, where arrivals jumped by thirty-seven percent, pointing to a growing reliance on air travel during peak holiday periods.  When it comes to the reasons behind travel, returning Belizeans continue to make up the largest group of entrants, though that number dipped slightly this year. On the other hand, tourist arrivals saw a strong increase of nearly twenty-five percent, reflecting continued growth in the country’s tourism sector.  Director Thompson says the data highlights the main purposes driving cross-border movement during the Easter period.

Lawrence Thompson, BMIS Director: “For majority of those Belizeans who came through our ports or for tourism. And so there’s an amount of them that also came for business. But we do capture that information through our declaration forms, and that is captured at ports of entries, particularly the Philip Goldson International Airport to identify the reason for travel. And those Belizeans that traveled over that weekend, many of them were for tourism. So a lot of Belizeans came back to celebrate the Easter with their families and friends.”

Overall, the figures suggest evolving travel patterns, with fewer crossings through Mexico, increased movement along the Guatemalan border, and a continued rise in air travel—trends that officials say will help inform planning and resource allocation for future peak travel periods