U.S. embassy rescinds Cayo travel warning

The nation’s tourism industry–particularly its constituents in the Cayo District–received some good news today. It took the form of an update in the U.S. government’s travel advisory on Belize. The new release acknowledges the efforts of government and private sector to prevent robberies in the Mountain Pine Ridge and Chiquibul areas, pointing to increased police patrols, caravanning of tour vans and the arrest of two alleged bandits. The spate of robberies and assaults last year prompted the U.S. State Department to warn tourists against visiting the area. While the new advisory still tells visitors to inquire regarding specific safety issues, it is far less negative than previous advisories. According to a release from the Belize Tourism Board, there has not been an incident in the area since June of last year. Viewers can find the update at www.usembassy.gov, clicking on Belize then information for travellers.