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guatemalaTourism Minister has sharply criticized foreign Office Warnings about travel to the Central American nation.
The FCDO travel advice says: “Violent assaults, including sexual assault and gun crime, can occur anywhere at any time of the day. Attackers kill and injure victims who resist. Arrest and conviction rates are low.
“There have been armed attacks on tourists traveling by road from major tourist destinations such as Antigua, Tikal, Petén and Lake Atitlan”
foreign Office Also warned again against traveling in refurbished US school buses which are the backbone of public transport guatemalaThe advisory warned of “violent looting, rape and attacks against foreigners” as well as “an increase in armed attacks by local gangs on bus drivers and conductors,”
But I am talking to IndependentDaily Travel PodcastGuatemala’s Tourism Minister Harris Whitbeck said: “This kind of travel advice – and not just from the UK – has been in place for many years. From personal experience, I can tell you that the reality is very different.
“I would like these advisories not to be blanket warnings covering the entire country, but to be regionalised. Like any country, there are many areas that pose a risk and many that do not. The areas most frequently visited by tourists are completely safe.
“We keep a careful eye on incidents, and in the last two years we have not had a single violent incident against tourists. So yes, it can be frustrating to read these advisories. I understand why they exist, but if they were more accurate, they would paint a truer picture.
“I’m not disputing them – I’m just saying that the areas frequented by travelers are safe.
“Read the advice and keep it in mind, but also do your own research. Read travel reviews, talk to other travelers. The beauty of today is that social media gives a voice to individual travelers. People share their experiences on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, and when you look at those stories, you’ll see a very different picture of Guatemala.”
Independent Foreign Office has been asked to reply. The FCDO says of its travel advice: “Our main concern is always the safety of British citizens. We know that our travel advice sometimes impacts businesses and international relations. We do not let this influence our advice.
“We constantly review our travel advice for each country or territory. We keep it up to date and make sure it covers the most important issues for British people visiting or living there.”
Other risks the Foreign Office has warned about for Guatemala include “express kidnappings – short-term opportunistic kidnappings aimed at extorting cash from the victim” and carjackings on the Pan American Highway running from Guatemala City to the border with El Salvador.
On Monday, the President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, State of emergency declared in two western municipalities Armed men attacked a military post and a police station.
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