Brits have been warned by government officials to not travel to the South American nation of Ecuador due to political unrest stirring in the country.
The popular holiday spot, which sees thousands of British tourists each week, has seen mass protests and riots break out which has culminated in the issuing of a state emergency which has now been lifted by the Ecuadorian government. Despite this, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said on Friday that UK holidaymakers should avoid travelling to Ecuador.
However, the advice does not apply to transits through Quito or Guayaquil airports or onwards travel to the Galapagos Islands.
The FCDO said: "If you have a flight arranged from Quito, you should ensure you get to the airport well in advance due to intermittent roadblocks. Consider staying in a hotel near the airport or check your hotel booking for onward travel as some hotels are running low on food supplies or are reporting no availability.
“British nationals should avoid all areas of protest and remain in a safe place. You should also monitor local media, including social media channels, and plan ahead for any possible disruptions to your travel plans, due to extensive national road closures.
“You should recheck with your hotel or travel plan itinerary due to reports of hotel closures and shortages of food provisions."
The state of emergency in the nation was ended following an initial meeting between government officials and Ecuador's largest indigenous organisation which caused the strike two weeks ago. The strikes were in response to rising fuel prices and also called for price controls to be implement on agricultural products and a large budget to be set for education.
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