Language
Overview
Official language is English. About 15% of the residents speak Spanish. English Creole and various Native American languages are widely spoken.
Public Holidays
01/01/2022 New Year
03/09/2022 Memorial Day in honor of Baron Bliss
03/14/2022 Commonwealth Day
04/15/2022 Good Friday
04/16/2022 holy saturday
04/18/2022 easter monday
05/01/2022 Labor Day
09/10/2022 Feast of Saint George Caye
09/21/2022 Independence Day
10/12/2022 Columbus Day
11/19/2022 Garifuna Settlement Day
12/25/2022 Christmas
12/26/2022 Christmas
Source: Top-mba-universities.com
Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be brought into Belize duty-free (persons aged 18 and over): 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco or a combination of these products up to 250 g; 1 liter spirits; 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.
Prohibited Exports
Objects from pre-Columbian times, products made from sea animals or plants, untreated coral and turtle shells. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Contact addresses
Embassy of Belize
(Also responsible for Germany and Austria.)
Blvd. Brand Whitlock 87-93
Brussels
Belgium
+32 (0)2 7 32 62 04.
http://www.embassyofbelizebrussels.org
http://www.embassyofbelizebrussels.org
Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm. Public traffic: 10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m.
Honorary Consulate General of Belize
Honorary Consulate in Gross-Gerau.
Breitscheidstrasse 10
Stuttgart
Germany
+49 (0)711 90 71 09 20. Belize High Commission
(Also responsible for Switzerland.)
45 Crawford Place
London
United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 77 23 36 03.
Mon-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-4.30pm. Telephone appointments: Mon-Thurs.
Business
Business etiquette
Local business people dress casually, suits and ties are rare. It is advisable to make an appointment, business cards are customary. October to March is the best time for business trips. Business hours: Mon-Thu 0800-1200 and 1300-1700, Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1630.
Business contacts
Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry 4792 Coney Drive, First Floor of Withfield Tower, Belize City, Belize Tel. +501 (0)223 53 30/31. Website: www.belize.org Belize Trade and Investment Development Services (BELTRAIDE) 3401 Mountain View Blvd., Suite 201, Belmopan, Cayo, Belize Tel. +501 (0)822 37 37. Website: www.belizeinvest.org.bz
Communication
Phone
International direct dialing. The national telephone company is Belize Telecommunications Limited (website: www.btl.net). BTL headquarters are located on the corner of Albert and Church Streets in Belize City and on the corner of Princess Margaret Drive and St. Thomas Streets. Phone cards are available in many places.
Mobile phone
In all six districts there are reception/transmission options for mobile communications. According to Abbreviationfinder.org, Belize Telecommunications Ltd (BTL) offers a GSM 1900 network. Cell phones can also be rented from Belize Telecommunications Ltd, including at Phillip Goldson International Airport (PGIA). In order to be able to use your own mobile phone in Belize, you need an open GSM (Global System Mobile Communication) 1900 MHz mobile phone. Cell phones can be activated at a BTL or Digicell branch. Prepaid cards can be bought at many stores across the country.
Internet
ISPs include BTL (web: www.btl.net) and Belize Web (web: www.belizeweb.com). There is an email service center at the BTL office in Belize City and internet cafes in downtown and tourist areas.
Post office
Airmail to Europe takes about a week.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly for the current frequencies (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
