The alleged rape of two Kentucky moms during a cruise vacation in the Bahamas that has dominated headlines this month – along with 18 murders in the country since the beginning of the year – serve as a stark reminder that vacation hot spots aren’t always as safe as they seem.
And in a bid to keep travelers safe, the US Government regularly updates its travel advisories based on various risk indicators such as terrorism and health scares, with the warning levels being: 1. Exercise Normal Precautions; 2. Exercise Increased Caution; 3. Reconsider Travel; and 4. Do Not Travel.
Currently, the Bahamas has a ‘Level 2’ status, with the advisory warning travelers to ‘be vigilant’ as ‘violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas.’
They are instructed to ‘not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is,’ and to not ‘physically resist any robbery attempt.’
Currently, the Bahamas has a ‘Level 2’ status, with the advisory warning travelers to ‘be vigilant’
But along with Bahamas, a string of other popular destinations share a Level 2 status, with some of the surprising spots being Italy, Denmark, France, Spain, Belgium, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Morocco and the Maldives due to ‘terrorism.’
For those considering trips to these places, the advisories tell travelers to be aware of their surroundings ‘when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues,’ to ‘follow the instructions of local authorities,’ to ‘monitor local media for breaking events’ and to adjust plans accordingly.
Other popular but slightly more exotic destinations in the Level 2 category include Peru with ‘crime, civil unrest, and the possibility of kidnapping’ in some areas, the Dominican Republic due to violent crimes, and the Turks and Caicos Islands due to crime, predominantly in the capital Providenciales.
Holiday destinations deemed safest and with Level 1 status, include Australia, the Cayman Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Japan, Austria, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Barbados, Bermuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Argentina, and Canada.
At the other end of the scale, there are 19 countries with ‘do not travel’ warnings.
The list of no-go zones comprise Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burma, Central African Republic, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Most of the reasons include a heightened risk of terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
There are 19 countries with ‘do not travel’ warnings. The list of no-go zones includes Venezuela
The UK has been designated Level 2 status due to ‘terrorism,’ according to the State Department
In the Government’s ‘reconsider travel,’ Level 3 category there are currently 24 countries. One of the newer countries added to the list is Jamaica
However, there are risks unique to individual countries.
For instance, Iran’s advisory warns of the risk of ‘surrogacy tourism,’ along with terrorism, civil unrest and ‘the arbitrary arrest of U.S. citizens.’
It states: ‘Companies offering surrogacy services in Iran are misrepresenting the security situation in Iran and the risks of the unregulated surrogacy tourism industry.
‘Private companies that arrange such visits and services put U.S. citizens in danger.’
Meanwhile, Yemen’s advisory warns travelers that landmines ‘exist throughout’ the country.
In the Government’s ‘reconsider travel,’ Level 3 category there are currently 24 countries.
One of the newer countries added to the list is Jamaica.
Last month, the government upped its travel ‘alert’ rating to ‘level 3’ – meaning Americans should now actively reconsider visiting ‘due to crime and [unreliable] medical services.’
One particularly concerning passage of advice published by the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica stated that ‘sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts,’ adding that local police ‘often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.’
Meanwhile the Maldives also has a Level 2 warning, and like the UK, the department cites ‘terrorism’ as the reason
The other countries with Level 3 are Guinea, Macau, Papua New Guinea, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Trinidad and Tobago, Lebanon, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Burundi, Chad, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Guinea-Bissau.
South Africa was the latest country to see its status change on February 5, with the Department of State saying it was ‘updated to reflect safety consideration when using GPS navigation,’ adding it can ‘lead to unsafe routes.’
‘GPS navigation may suggest shortcuts through townships as the quickest preferred route but can lead to increased risks of crime,’ the advisory read.
‘There have been incidents in which tourists traveling in Cape Town while using GPS navigation apps have been routed through residential areas with high rates of violent crime. The safest approach to return a rental car to Cape Town International Airport is to take the N2 highway and follow signs to Airport Approach Rd (exit 16).
‘Alternatively, request the rental car company to collect your vehicle and subsequently arrange an airport transfer from established taxi companies or established ridesharing services to reach the airport.’
There’s also another level known as ‘other,’ which is reserved for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; Mexico and China.
Of the former, the Department of State warns: ‘Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
‘Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.
‘Violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning.’
As for Mexico, the department says ‘violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread and common in Mexico.’
‘The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted. In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities.’
It adds: ‘U.S. citizens are advised to adhere to restrictions on U.S. government employee travel. State-specific restrictions are included in the individual state advisories below. U.S. government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services like Uber, and regulated taxi stands.’
With China, the department has urged people to reconsider their travel plans to the country ‘due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions.’
LEVEL 4: DO NOT TRAVEL
AFGHANISTAN: Do not travel to Afghanistan due to terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and crime.
BELARUS: Do not travel to Belarus due to the Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus. U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately.
BURKINA FASO: Do not travel to Burkina Faso due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping.
BURMA: Do not travel to Burma due to civil unrest, armed conflict, and arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Reconsider travel to Burma due to limited and/or inadequate healthcare and emergency medical resources, and areas with land mines and unexploded ordnances. Exercise increased caution due to wrongful detentions.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Do not travel to the Central African Republic (CAR) due to Embassy Bangui’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens, crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
HAITI: Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure. On July 27, 2023, the Department of State ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency U.S. government employees. U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible by commercial or other privately available transportation options, in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges. U.S. citizens wishing to depart Port-au-Prince should monitor local news and only do so when considered safe.
IRAN: Do not travel to Iran due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest of U.S. citizens. Exercise increased caution due to wrongful detentions.
IRAQ: Do not travel to Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest, and Mission Iraq’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens.
LIBYA: Do not travel to Libya due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
MALI: Do not travel to Mali due to crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.
NORTH KOREA: Do not travel to North Korea due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals. Exercise increased caution to North Korea due to the critical threat of wrongful detention.
RUSSIA: Do not travel to Russia due to the unpredictable consequences of the unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment and the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, and the possibility of terrorism. U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart immediately. Exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions.
SOMALIA: Do not travel to Somalia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues, kidnapping, and piracy.
SUDAN: Do not travel to Sudan due to armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.
SOUTH SUDAN: Do not travel to South Sudan due to crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
SYRIA: Do not travel to Syria due to terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and risk of unjust detention.
UKRAINE: Do not travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Department of State continues to advise that U.S. citizens not travel to Ukraine due to active armed conflict.
VENEZUELA: Do not travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Reconsider travel due to wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure.
YEMEN: Do not travel to Yemen due to terrorism, civil unrest, crime, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines.
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