The State Department has warned US citizens to exercise caution in Mexican vacation hotspot Playa del Carmen over an unspecified ‘security threat’ in the town.
In a website post the embassy said it has banned government employees from visiting the resort town.
"US citizens must have as much information as possible to make informed travel decisions. We take our obligation to provide information to US citizens seriously as evidenced by the clear, timely, and reliable safety and security information we release worldwide," said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert.
The security escalation came a few days after the US Embassy ordered all workers not to use tourist ferry services from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel after explosive materials were found hidden on the underside of a vessel.
That sparked cruise lines to postpone shore excursions that use public ferry services in Cozumel.
"Clearly, there is a threat. We’re making Americans aware of that threat so that Americans can protect their own safety and the safety of their families," Nauert added.
The threat is not related to the ferry incident, US officials said.
It has been dismissed by the regional government which says it is business as usual in the town.
"All tourism and economic activity in Playa del Carmen continues in a normal manner. We do not know why the U.S. government decided to emit this alert," a Quintana Roo state government statement said.
Mexican State prosecutors say the ferry incidents which included a previous unexplained explosion, are still under investigation.
Tourism officials say current occupancy in the resort is about 80% but the latest travel warning is likely to hit business just ahead of the busy Spring Break season.
