Belize Tourism Board Launches Sister Reef Project to Benefit World Wildlife Fund

Tiny Country Partners with Global Conservation Organization to Help Coral Reefs Worldwide

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Mar 08, 2018, 09:00 ET

BELIZE CITY, Belize, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite being on opposite sides of the globe, Belize and Australia are connected as the home to the planet's two largest barrier reefs. These fragile habitats are under threat from environmental impacts and must be protected. To help, the Belize Tourism Board has partnered with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to create the Sister Reef Project, a campaign to raise awareness and funds for Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the Belize Barrier Reef.

The Sister Reef Project
The Sister Reef Project is an online fundraiser benefitting WWF. Travelers are encouraged to buy credits to enter to win multiple curious items and experiences in Belize, while simultaneously donating to a worthy cause. All funds from the project will go toward WWF to support its reef conservation efforts in both Belize and Australia.

"Belize is home to the world's second-largest barrier reef and we want to keep it that way," said Karen Bevans, Director of Tourism at the Belize Tourism Board. "Belizeans know the importance of a healthy reef and many rely on it for their livelihood. Our economy is built on tourism, with reef-related tourism and fisheries supporting about 190,000 people. That's why Belizeans across the country—from hotels, tour operators, restaurants and more—are coming together and donating what valuable goods and services they can to support this effort."

Prizes up for grabs as part of the Sister Reef Project include:

Accommodations at more than a dozen resorts
Roundtrip airline tickets
Exclusive adventure and cultural experiences, like an aerial tour over the Great Blue Hole, luxury sailing excursion, diving and caving tours, and private culinary experiences
Many more items and experiences

How to Donate
Starting March 8, 2018 and continuing through March 29, 2018, U.S. travelers can visit SisterReefProject.com and make a donation to the online fundraiser. Every $5 USD donation can be applied to purchase credits that will allow them to enter for a chance to win many different curious Belize experiences, while simultaneously donating to a worthy cause. Participants may come away with one of more than 40 prizes or experiences worth over $59,000 USD. But because the reef promises the unexpected, the prizes will be too—all listed items will initially be hidden and will be unlocked as individual donations occur.

To view auction items, donate and learn about reef conservation, visit SisterReefProject.com.

The Belize Barrier Reef
Spanning 185 miles of the country's coastline, the Belize Barrier Reef is the largest reef system in the Northern Hemisphere, second only in the world to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. It comprises seven key marine reserve zones, over 400 cayes (islands) and three atolls. Home to more than 500 species of fish and marine life, 70 hard coral and 30 soft coral, the Belize Barrier Reef is a world-class diving and snorkeling destination, attracting visitors from around the globe. It was dedicated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

For more information on traveling to Belize, visit TravelBelize.org, and join the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Belize Tourism Board
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is a statutory body within the Belize Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, and it is governed by a Board of Directors appointed Tourism Industry Association and Belize National Tour Operators Association. BTB is dedicated to building tourism in the most economically and environmentally sustainable manner. As a part of its responsibilities, the BTB promotes Belize as a premier tourism destination to both in-country and international consumers. Among its outreach to the international travel market, the BTB markets the country's unique attractions to travelers, members of the travel trade industry and media outlets in key markets. The BTB is also dedicated to developing and implementing tourism programs that will help strengthen and grow the Belizean tourism industry; promote good destination stewardship; and instill high quality standards for accommodations and travel experiences. For more information on the BTB and its services, visit www.travelbelize.org.

About the World Wildlife Fund
WWF is one of the world's leading conservation organizations, working in 100 countries for over half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and follow our news conversations on Twitter @World_Wildlife.

SOURCE Belize Tourism Board