U.S. Travel Advisory Issued Against Belize

The Belize Tourism Industry Association, the Belize Hotel Association, the Belize National Tour Operators Association and the Belize National Tour Guides Association issued a joint press release requesting their members to discontinue trips to the remote areas in the Chiquibul and Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserves. The request follows a travel advisory by the U.S. State Department of Travel warning of "the potential of banditry in the Caracol, Augustine and Chiquibul road areas." The most recent attack occurred on Caracol Road two weeks ago. In addition to robbing 12 tourists and three guides, the bandits also attempted to rape one of the females in the group. A massive search was launched by the police but no arrests have been made.