Costa Rica flinches at growth in crime

Cleaner and less chaotic, Costa Rica is Latin America-lite. Unlike most of the rest of the continent, you can drink the tap water there, order an eco-Uber and embrace a hassle-free lifestyle.

So imagine the government’s horror last week when the US (the largest single market for the tourism that powers Costa Rica’s $60bn economy) downgraded its travel recommendations for the country, citing an increase in crime, including armed robbery and homicide, the Financial Times reports.