Theft and Robbery Dominate Tourist Complaints in Guatemala

Security remains a top concern for potential visitors to Guatemala, with a significant portion of tourist feedback highlighting issues like theft, scams, and fraud. DataLab's analysis shows that 41.3% of comments and complaints about the tourist experience in Guatemala relate to safety concerns.

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The information is valid and useful because it allows us to reorient the service and implement new strategies. However, it is important to differentiate perception from reality. We work with registered complaints and incidents.

The Directorate of Tourist Security (DISETUR) has registered a consistent number of reports against tourists in recent years: 78 in 2024, 71 in 2025, and 39 as of early 2026. According to the institution, the majority of these incidents involve crimes against property, mainly theft and robbery, rather than violent offenses.

Marco Tulio Lorenzo Corado, head of DISETUR's Operations Department, noted that Antigua Guatemala, the metropolitan area, and Flores, Petén, have recorded the highest number of incidents this year. He stressed that DISETUR's focus is on property loss or theft, and importantly, no violent crimes against tourists have been reported in the country's main destinations in recent years.

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The most common crimes are related to property, mainly theft and robbery. This year we have registered 19 cases of theft and robbery nationwide.

Corado acknowledged that tourist perceptions of safety are influenced by various factors, but emphasized the difference between perception and reality, citing official statistics. He also shared an example where a tourist's phone was recovered within 48 hours after being misplaced, highlighting successful coordination with the Tourism Prosecutor's Office. While three aggression cases were reported this year, they involved migrants in transit, not tourists.

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In recent years, no incidents against the lives of tourists have been reported in the main destinations of the country.