A popular holiday hotspot has been developing a bloody reputation as an average of one tourist a week has died this year.

While Medellin, Colombia was last year found to be the ultimate holiday destination for the summer months thanks to its climate, tourists are growing weary of its crime rate.

Last week, 25-year-old American Matthew Watson Croulet was found dead in his room after hopping on a taxi disoriented and with only the name of his hotel clear in his mind.

He was the 29th tourist to have died in violent or mysterious circumstances since the start of the year.

With an average of more than one dead a week, authorities fear the total death toll could hit 61 by December if the trend continues.

Another American, Jaime Eduardo Cisneros, was found dead in his hotel room in the tourist district of Laureles on May 31.

Authorities said Mr Cisneros had entered the room accompanied by a woman in the early morning before his body was discovered rolled up in a sheet with no signs of violence on his body. The woman was confirmed to have left the premises alone.

The Colombian town has experienced a boom in tourism in recent years thanks to the balmy 27.6C average temperatures it enjoys over the summer.

The low cost of daily life – an average of £43 per day – also contributes to attracting tourists from all over the world, especially Americans lured in by Medellin’s criminal past.

The birthplace of drug lord Pablo Escobar, the Colombian town was once known as one of the most dangerous places in the world.

Following the death of the kingpin in 1993, and hard work from the government to clean its reputation, it became one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world.

But the tourism boom has led to an exponential spike in criminal activities, with local thugs primarily targeting holidaymakers.

Officials have urged visitors to beware of their surroundings, as they noted many of the deaths involved scopolamine, also known as “Devil’s Breath.”

The drug is a favourite of criminals and is often used to incapacitate victims in robberies and sex crimes.

The surge in deaths has prompted the US State Department to issue a travel advisory urging wannabe holidaymakers to “reconsider” their plans.