The British Foreign Office has updated its advice for British holidaymakers heading to the Dominican Republic, following recent reports of violent crime against tourists.
It says that most incidents have taken place in Santo Domingo, the country’s capital city, with a number of tourists being mugged at gunpoint in broad daylight while travelling through residential areas. Twenty US visitors were robbed by armed attackers on the same street, Avenida Bolivar, during last month alone, says the warning. Other reported crimes include car burglaries and pick-pocketing.
Visitors are being warned to take care when walking through isolated streets or when travelling on tourist scooters, especially at the night, and to avoid quiet, poorly-lit areas. Tourists are also advised to keep all valuables, including passports, in hotel safety boxes and not to carry large amounts of cash when outside of their hotel.
The Foreign Office also issued a warning about crime around the city’s Las Americas International Airport, with recent reports of passengers being stopped, robbed and/or assaulted after leaving the terminal. Most incidents occurred in the early morning hours or late at night.
Last month, the US security research company FrontierMEDEX also reported “multiple incidents” of theft at Las Americas last year and of gangs following vehicles from both Las Americas and Cibao International airports in recent months, attempting to rob tourists.
Last year the airlines JetBlue and Air France also reported increased rates of theft in and around Las Americas.
www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9862361/Foreign-Office-warning-over-crime-in-the-Dominican-Republic.html