Family Welcomes UK Warning on Missing Tourists in Costa Rica

LONDON, May 24, 2011 -

- The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has altered its official travel
advice on Costa Rica following an appeal by the family of missing British
journalist Michael Dixon.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has published an official warning
about the increasing number of missing people in Costa Rica on its travel
advice website
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/costa-rica

The new text includes the line: "Eight foreign nationals (including one
British national) have gone missing in the last two years, with some related
to criminal activity."

The change comes in response to a letter from the Dixon family to Foreign
Secretary William Hague.

Minister of State Jeremy Browne said in a reply to the Dixons on 12 May:
"Violent crime against tourists is increasing. The recent increase in the
number of foreign nationals missing in Costa Rica is also worrying."

David Dixon said: "There is a common misperception that Costa Rica is a
safe place to go on holiday. While it is a beautiful country, travellers need
to be aware of the increasing number of tourist disappearances and exercise a
much greater degree of caution."

Michael Dixon vanished after leaving his hotel room in Tamarindo, Costa
Rica, on 18 October 2009. The story was recently covered in a BBC documentary
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/fast_track/9478002.stm

Eleven other foreign nationals have either gone missing or were murdered
in Costa Rica in the past 18 months. Most of the cases go unsolved.

helpfindmichaeldixon.com

Download COME HOME - a charity single for loved ones gone missing
helpfindmichaeldixon.com/content/music-campaign

DIXON letter to Foreign & Commonwealth Office:
www.helpfindmichaeldixon.com/update/letter-william-hague-urging-fco-review-travel-advice-costa-rica

Response from Foreign & Commonwealth Office:
www.helpfindmichaeldixon.com/update/response-fco-12-may-2011

Andrew Rettman (Dixon family spokesman), +32-485-754-741, ar at euobs.com, or David Dixon, +44-7920-792-204, david.dixon79 at gmail.com