Open Guatemala Borders, WHEN, and WHY NOT? Guatemala Government closed its borders to the outside world in March in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID 19 throughout the county. This action has devastated the Tourism industry throughout the country. Guatemala relies heavily on tourist dollars 7.4% of the country’s GDP based on Tourism. Areas hardest hit by the closure include Tikal, Guatemala City, Antigua, Chichi, Livingston, and Lake Atitlan.