Belize’s Data Protection Act, 2021 does not contain a CASL-style rule that bans all unconsented email. It does, however, define consent strictly and give every person the right to stop direct marketing. Many Belizean lists also include Americans, Canadians and Europeans whose own laws require opt-in. Asking for permission clearly is therefore the approach that works for every contact on your list. This guide shows how to do it at the points where Belizean businesses actually meet people.
This is general information, not legal advice.
What valid consent looks like under the Act
The Act describes consent as freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous, expressed through a statement or a clear affirmative action. In practice, a good opt-in has four elements:
- An action by the subscriber: ticking an empty box, typing their address or replying “yes”. A pre-ticked box is not an affirmative action.
- A named sender: “Sunrise Tours Belize”, not “our partners”.
- A stated purpose: for example “monthly specials and reef conditions”, not a vague “updates”.
- Separate from the sale: newsletter consent should not be a condition of booking or buying.
Where Belizean businesses collect addresses, and how to do it well
Online bookings and web forms
Add an unticked checkbox under the booking form, such as “Send me offers and travel tips from [business] by email. I can unsubscribe at any time.” A Mailpro signup form embedded on your site records the date, time and form of every subscription.
Front desk, tour dock and shop counter
Paper sheets get lost and handwriting is hard to read. A form on a tablet, reached through a QR code at reception or on the boat, gives you clean data and a timestamp. Say what guests will receive, in English and, where your customers need it, Spanish.
Trade fairs and business events
Business cards collected at a fair are not consent to a newsletter. Send one personal follow-up and invite the contact to subscribe. Do not add them in bulk.
Existing customers
A past customer can reasonably expect to hear about similar services, and CAN-SPAM allows opt-out email to US recipients. However, CASL limits implied consent from a purchase to two years, and the GDPR sets its own conditions. If your list is mixed, run a re-permission campaign before you rely on old addresses.
Double opt-in: proof you can show
Double opt-in sends a confirmation email, and the person is added only after they click. It removes typos and fake addresses and gives you a record of the confirmation. That is the evidence you would need if a subscriber, a regulator or a mailbox provider ever questioned how an address joined your list. For the difference in detail, see our opt-in vs double opt-in FAQ.
Keeping permission valid over time
- Honour opt-outs immediately: Section 18 allows 21 days, but mailbox providers expect faster. Mailpro removes unsubscribers automatically.
- Send what you promised: if people signed up for a quarterly newsletter, sending daily promotions undermines their consent.
- Re-engage or retire: contacts inactive for a year can be offered a “still interested?” email before you remove them. Manage non-openers with Mailpro’s inactive-contact tools.
- Never buy lists: a purchased list has no consent you can prove. Our blog explains why bought lists backfire.
The same rules for SMS
The Act’s direct-marketing right applies to marketing sent “by whatever means”. Collect mobile numbers in full international format (+501 followed by the seven-digit number), with a separate checkbox for texts, and include opt-out wording. Our SMS opt-in FAQ gives sample wording.
Once your list is built with permission, move on to sending campaigns that perform in Belize.