Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Honduras Travel Warning Continued

Roatan, Honduras
State Department
Travel Warnings

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens that the level of crime and violence in Honduras remains critically high.

Crime remains high and the warning indicates that the government of Honduras lacks the resources to control the problem.  Honduras has the highest murder rate in the entire world.   See full text of warning ...

UPDATE:  Subsequent to this article, a family of five - passengers on Carnival Conquest, were robbed at gunpoint.  See Passengers Robbed Honduras for complete details.

Tourist Areas  Have Fewer Incidents

Tourism is a large portion of Honduras economy, with cruise lines continuing to stop there even in light of the State Department warnings.   The Honduras government has increased police presence and established special police forces in areas frequented by tourists, such as the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatan.

Recommendations

The travel warning suggests that tourists be vigilant and travel in groups of two or more.  That is practical advice for any destination, even here in the states.  The warning states "It is also advisable to avoid wearing jewelry and carrying large sums of money or displaying cash, ATM/credit cards, or other valuables. U.S. citizens should avoid walking at night in most areas of Honduras or walking alone on beaches, historic ruins, and trails."

Know Before You Go

For more detailed information regarding personal security, please see the State Department's Country Specific Information for Honduras. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Web site, where the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. 

Consult our International Travel page for more links that are useful when traveling abroad.


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