Safety fears surround Caribbean holiday island

Travel companies are considering whether it is safe to take holidaymakers to the Caribbean island of Antigua following the murder last week of an American tourist, the latest in a string of attacks on foreigners.

The 30-year-old woman was killed as she took a walk along a trail near Pigeon Point beach. She was visiting the island as part of a Caribbean cruise with tall ship cruise line Star Clipper (www.starclippers.co.uk)

Star Clippers said it was considering whether to drop Antigua as a port of call. Its yacht, the Royal Clipper, normally docks in Falmouth once a fortnight.

The woman was the latest victim in a string of attacks against tourists on the island in recent years. Last January, an Australian man visiting Antigua on his yacht was shot dead as he took a walk with his partner and daughter.

In 2008, British newly-weds Benjamin and Catherine Mullany were murdered in their bungalow in Antigua's Coco Hotel.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk), which monitors the safety of British tourists, does not advise against travel to Antigua in spite of the apparent escalation in crime.

In the travel advisory section of its website it says: Around 97 000 tourists visit Antigua and Barbuda each year and the vast majority of visits are trouble-free.

"Antigua and Barbuda is a friendly and welcoming country and overall crime rates are relatively low.

"There has been an overall increase in crime in Antigua over recent months, including gun crime. You should therefore maintain at least the same level of security awareness as you would in the UK and ensure that your living accommodation is secure."

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