Employment and new work practices in Belize

A lot of the expats in Cayo are in tourism related businesses, so those are still shut down, and of course incomes are non-existent.  For those that I know, retired, artists, self-employed, etc., there is very little difference except no travel outside the country or congregating in large groups.  Belize is one of the countries with fewest SARS 2-Covid cases and deaths, so we are very fortunate.  We have quite a lot of expat retirees over age 65, and they remain healthy and worry-free.

I'm great, thanks, and hope you are too!

I came to Belize first in '88 and moved here in '90, built a small eco-lodge in a remote location and ran that successfully for over 20 years before retiring.  Now I just live on the land without much stress, and tourists from a nearby lodge hike on my trails for a bit of income.  Over the years I've run a number of businesses, generally without much success, lucky to pay the expenses, if that. They are expensive hobbies at best.  Outside of the Mennonites in Spanish Lookout, I don't know of anyone here running a business other than tourism or land/housing development that is more than scraping by in the best of times.  Most of the retirees who get acreages and build houses raise a lot of their own fruits and sometimes small livestock, but that's for their own needs and there isn't much of a market to make an income that way.  Some exceptions might be high $ spices such as vanilla, cardamom, turmeric, etc where there are growing demands worldwide.  I have an interest in medicinal plants, but there is no real market for that yet.

Sorry not to be of more help.  Most expats here are retired, and have retirement income, and don't go into business to make $.

ETA, if tourism doesn't re-open and reach its pre-Covid levels, there will be a lot of jobless people and very little prosperity for locals.  That will bring a lot of problems that go along with poverty in any country. It's not likely anyone will go hungry here, but there won't be $ for 'discretionary' spending, so many businesses will fail for that reason.  Theft might also get worse. 

There are many things Belize needs, music teachers, investigative reporters/journalists, etc., but not much $ in it. You just have to want the adventure of it, and be ready to switch gears if something doesn't work out.

Wow! I'm amazed that you don't even live here yet and you already know what's best for the country and want to pass laws to have it done your way. That's just the kind of liberal/socialist viewpoint that is screwing up the country you want to leave.  I can already tell you that attitude will not be appreciated here, by other expats or locals either.

I wish people would stop and think of what the world was like before the concept of 'tourism.' There were many countries and cultures thriving before 'colonists' destroyed them and usurped their lands.  Tourism is another form of colonization. In the beginning it was good, more eco-oriented and preserving of habitat and resources, appreciation for the people. Now with cruise ships, casinos and mega hotels coming in, it is starting to go downhill, a different class of people coming here and some wanting to move here, and change it to be like where they came from. Half the time visitors never even interact with local people other than their waiters and tour guides. Visiting is nothing like living here, and anyone considering a move should live here for 6 months to a year before making the move. And if you don't like the way it is and want to change things to suit your own ideology, then maybe you should stay where you are, where you can vote, and change your own country as you'd like it to be. If you're looking for a warm climate and cheap land, build yourself a greenhouse and solarium, it's cheaper than relocating. If you're running from high taxes, realize that coming here will drive taxes higher for everyone here as well.

Re-examine your reasons for wanting to relocate to Belize. Changing the country to suit you should not be one of them.