ADO and Fuente Del Norte to resume runs in Belize in coming weeks

The Government of Belize has announced the return of the Mexican ADO bus and Guatemala’s Fuente del Norte into Belize. Love News understands that the runs are to service Belizeans who will be traveling across the northern and western borders and are not meant for stops within the country. Minister of Transport, Rodwell Ferguson, explained that the return of these bus lines are based on increasing tourism arrivals.

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Transport: “Since COVID the Ministry of Tourism is trying to build back its numbers to pre-covid numbers and they are reaching there but somehow they haven’t reached the target as yet. And so they keep complaining the the land borders are not performing perfectly well in terms of tourists coming in and they felt that the main reason was because the buses from Guatemala and Mexico likewise did not bring these tourists into Belize and so it was they who prompted the idea and said Minister regardless of the circumstances we need to let this economy grow. And they want the tourism industry to strive, it’s the number one income earner for Belize and so at Cabinet after I took the paper they agreed that we must bring back these two buses into the country under certain conditions that they’ll be properly monitored, there will be a manifest as the bus enters the country to know who comes from Melchor’s side or who comes from Chetumal’s side because those buses will not be able to pick up any local passengers. There should be absolutely no impact on the local transportation system. We are just trying to work with our neighbors at the same time trying to generate some revenue for the country of Belize by them bringing in tourists into the country and Belizeans can take advantage of it if they want to go across the border at some point but only across the border.”

Reporter: And so these buses will be allowed to park at the bus depot in Belize City ?

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Transport: “Well I know initially ADO was using the bus depot in Belize City initially so they want to continue using that bus depot in Belize City and then the one from Guatemala will find a location in Belize City where they’ll go and leave off their passengers I think to go to San Pedro in particular or Caye Caulker.”

ADO will officially return on May 1 with runs from Belize City to Merida and Cancun, while Fuente del Norte is proposing to begin its runs on April 21 from Belize City to Flores, Peten and Guatemala City. We will have more on this decision in our evening news.