Three countries have recently issued travel warnings for their citizens to stay on guard when visiting U.S. cities rocked by sometimes violent protests and public shootings. But in the aftermath of the most recent attack against civilians in Nice, France, holiday travel to Southern Europe doesn’t seem much safer at present.
A truck has hit a crowd in Nice who were celebrating Bastille Day on 14 July in an apparent attack. There are reports of over 84 deaths and casualties so far. Another 130 people were killed and over 300 injured in coordinated attacks at six locations in Paris in November last year.
On July 15, governments of Australia and the United Kingdom have issued travel warnings to their citizens regarding visiting France, where the state of emergency is extended by three months. Until then French authorities will exercise additional powers to deal with the security situation. Large public gatherings and access to public areas may be restricted even within the most popular amongst tourists cities in the south of France.
Since the start of 2016, nearly 250,000 refugees arrived to Europe, according to data from the International Organization for Migration. European countries apparently are unprepared to deal with such inflows of people from other continents and numerous cases of violence and criminal actions have been reported. Clashes caused by various circumstances between local citizens and refugees are frequently reported by international media.
Altogether, summer holiday travels are no longer carefree and holiday makers should research their destinations in advance and evaluate risks and complications. Travel insurance alone is not a solution as often it doesn’t cover emergency healthcare.
- Read more: Do You Really Need Travel Insurance?
Tourists should follow up on the announcements of their countries’ embassies for latest updates.
The United States regularly issues travel warnings urging Americans to either avoid or exercise caution in countries marred by violence or political instability. In July alone, the country has issued travel warnings for Bangladesh, Venezuela, Iraq and Mali.
However, recently the United Arab Emirates also urged its students and other citizens in the United States to also be careful, using similar language the U.S. State Department employs when warning Americans about countries that have fallen victim to attacks by extremists.
Now America is the focus of concern by foreign governments in the Middle East and Caribbean.
The United Arab Emirates urged its students and other citizens in the United States to also be careful, using similar language the U.S. State Department employs when warning Americans about countries that have fallen victim to attacks by extremists.
“Please be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places when possible,” the UAE embassy said in a statement that urged people to stay away from any U.S. demonstrations. “Exercise particular caution during large festivals or events, be alert and stay safe.”
The U.S. embassy of Bahrain, one of the six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, last Saturday urged citizens via Twitter to “be cautious of protests or crowded areas occurring around the U.S.”
Bahamas, a Caribbean nation where most people identify as being of African heritage, last Friday also warned its people to be careful when visiting U.S. cities rocked by “shootings of young black males by police officers.”
With travel warnings in the news, European stocks slipped Friday, with travel shares significantly lower. European hotel chains and budget airlines are the first hit by the expected decrease in international travel. With lower numbers of tuorists, their revenues will suffer and operational costs will increase.
