Belize Tourism Board Announces Relocation and Evacuation Plans for Tropical Storm Richard

BELIZE CITY, Belize, October 24, 2010 - In light of Tropical Storm Richard, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) has
announced evacuation and relocation plans for all in-country travelers, and
travelers visiting Belize in the coming days. According to the Belize
National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), the center of Tropical
Storm Richard is expected to cross Belize this evening as a category 1
hurricane; as of 12:00 p.m. MST, the center of the storm was located 55 miles
southeast of Belize City, moving toward the northwest at 13 miles per hour.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 85 miles per hour with higher gusts.

In response to the impending hurricane, all hotels in the Toledo District
- located in the southern region of Belize, and coastal communities have been
evacuated, and all residents and travelers have been relocated to safe
grounds. People being evacuated have been sent to shelters in northern
Belize. For those choosing to not evacuate, area shelters have been set up by
NEMO along the coast starting from the areas of Golden Stream, Deep River
area in Toledo, and the Stann Creek District, where Richard is expected to
make landfall this evening. For a complete listing of all emergency shelters
or for more information on Tropical Storm Richard, please visit NEMO at
www.nemo.org.bz or call the emergency line at +501-822-0153.

NEMO has confirmed that as of 10:00 a.m. MST, all public in-country
transport operations have been ceased, except for transit buses that will
complete their runs to the north at 2:00 p.m. MST. Additionally, all airline
flights have been grounded and the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport
(PGIA) is closed for the day.

For those concerned about friends or family in-country, or for those
expected to travel to Belize in the coming days, you are advised to visit
BTB's emergency online site for weather updates and information. This website
can be accessed at www.belizeemergency.net. Travelers should also
check with their airline carrier for on whether or not to reschedule travel
dates.

Yanick Dalhouse, bvk pr, +1-262-349-3900 or +1-262-442-0665, ydalhouse at bvk.com, or Morgan Shelton, bvk pr, +1-312-933-7910, morgans at bvk.com, both for Belize Tourism Board