[belizeculture]

Following Prime Minister Dean Barrow's admission a few weeks ago that "...that the worst is yet to come and he asked the nation to have "understanding" and to be "patient," Belizeanthere have been fears that new taxes are looming for Belize.

Interviewed last week, acting Prime Minister Gaspar Vega was vague about new taxes for the new financial year which starts on April 1st but did not deny reports.

A U.S. travel writer who writes books on Belize, Lan Sluder, was quoted this morning on the New Belize Culture Mailing list as saying taxes on the travel would not be too bad. Mr. Sluder stated that "Reports are that the GST will rise from 10% to 12% and the hotel tax from 9% to 10%.

Personally, I'm not opposed to the rise in the hotel tax, as it's in line with hotel tax rates in other areas and indeed is lower than some, such as Guatemala. Though of course it won't help tourism and may garner Belize some more bad PR as an expensive travel destination."