Atlanta to welcome high-profile delegation from Belize to promote investment and tourism

February 16, 2023
by Larry Waight +

High-Level Belize Tourism and Diaspora Delegation Set to Visit Atlanta

A delegation from Belize, led by the Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Anthony Mahler, is set to visit Atlanta on February 24th to engage with the Belizean diaspora and promote tourism and business ties. The delegation will include several high-level government officials who will participate in a town hall with the Belizean community at The Whitley hotel in Buckhead on February 26th.

The group will also visit Conyers, where officials will be recognized by Rockdale County’s tax commissioner and participate in a ceremony celebrating two area businesses owned by members of the Belize diaspora.

The delegation will include the Prime Minister of Belize, John Briceño, and Lynn Young, the country’s ambassador to the United States. The Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Affairs has requested a meeting with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

The delegation’s visit is part of a wider effort to strengthen ties between Belize and its diaspora community, which numbers around 300,000 people in the United States. The visit will also showcase Belize’s unique offerings to potential investors and tourism partners in Atlanta and the wider Southeast region.

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Known for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, Belize is the only non-Spanish-speaking country in Central America. Its economy is largely based on tourism and agriculture, and it is a member of the CARICOM trade bloc.

According to a 2022 U.S. State Department report on the investment climate in Belize, the country launched its first roadshow in the United States in 2022 aimed at promoting foreign direct investment. The report estimates that there are about 300,000 people of Belizean origin in the United States, although it is unclear how many of them reside in Georgia or the Southeast.

Delta Air Lines offers a nonstop flight from Atlanta to Belize City, making it a convenient gateway for visitors to Belize. The visit by the Belizean delegation underscores the importance of diaspora communities in promoting investment and tourism in developing countries and highlights the potential for stronger partnerships between Belize and the United States.