Barbados Tourists Warned of Crime World Travel...

Barbados Tourists Warned of Crime

World Travel Watch is a monthly report designed to help you make informed judgments about travel. Because conditions can change overnight, always make your own inquiries before you leave home. For more information on safety concerns in countries you may be visiting, contact the Citizens Emergency Center, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520, (202) 647-5225.

CARIBBEAN Barbados: The U.S. Department of State reports that crime against tourists has increased, particularly in the capital city of Bridgetown and at the beaches. Incidents have occurred in crowded areas and in broad daylight. Crimes include purse snatching, pickpocketing, sexual assault and armed robbery. Be wary when driving in isolated areas because there have been incidents of roadblocks and armed robberies, and exercise caution strolling the beaches and at major tourist attractions.

Dominican Republic: An outbreak of typhoid fever that began 85 miles north of the capital city of Santo Domingo, in the central town of Moca, killed eight people in late March. The disease, which is transmitted through contaminated food and water, has spread to regions near the border with Haiti. At risk are those who will be traveling off the usual tourist itineraries, those going to smaller cities or rural areas, or travelers planning to remain for more than six weeks. Immunization is recommended before arrival.

SOUTHEAST ASIA Philippines: Fighting between Communist rebels and military forces flared April 13 in the district of Sagada in northern Luzon, which had been declared a cease-fire zone. Sagada is a mountain resort area popular with German and Australian travelers, but no foreigners were reported hurt in the fighting that killed at least 19 soldiers and nine guerrillas. The U.S. Department of State advises Americans to avoid travel to Sagada.

SOUTH AMERICA Colombia: Because of a severe drought, the entire country is suffering from power shortages and the government has declared a state of emergency.

Venezuela: Travelers should stay out of the vicinity of anti-government demonstrations that have occurred occasionally in Caracas and other urban areas since the unsuccessful coup attempt of Feb. 4. Most political demonstrations are announced in advance. There have been no demonstrations in coastal tourist areas such as Margarita Island and Puerto La Cruz, or in interior areas such as Puerto Ayacucho and Ciudad Bolivar. Also, cholera is present in the western regions bordering Colombia, and travelers should avoid eating raw or undercooked food and should drink only bottled or boiled beverages.

ASIA Nepal: Anti-government demonstrations in Katmandu and Patan in early April turned violent; at least seven people were killed and curfews were imposed. Conditions have quieted since, but the depressed economy threatens to keep dissatisfaction simmering. Avoid demonstrations or large gatherings.

EASTERN EUROPE Commonwealth of Independent States: Travelers should avoid Russia’s Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Republic and the neighboring North Ossetia Autonomous Republics because the political situation in these regions remains unsettled. Travelers should exercise caution when traveling to Georgia, particularly around the cities of Zagadi, Sukhumi and Poti, and along the Black Sea coast. Travel to the western and south Ossetian regions of Georgia should be deferred.

Travel to the border areas between Armenia and Azerbaijan and to the Nagorno-Karabakh province of Azerbaijan should be avoided due to ongoing violence. Because of a natural gas and transportation blockade imposed on Armenia, the country is undergoing severe shortages of food and medical supplies and frequent disruptions of electrical power.

Travelers to Moldova should avoid the Dniester region because of civil unrest.

Travel to Tajikistan should be undertaken with caution because of political unrest in the capital city of Dushanbe.

EUROPE France: The U.S. Consulate in Lyon will close June 1 to shift diplomatic resources to Eastern Europe or the former Soviet Union. U.S. consular offices will remain in Paris, Bordeaux and Marseille.

AFRICA Kenya: On March 4 the U.S. Department of State issued a warning about visiting the popular Masai Mara Game Reserve due to inadequate security. Germany issued a similar warning to its citizens in February, but withdrew the advisory April 1, citing security improvements. The U.S. advisory has not yet been lifted or amended.

Angola: The cease-fire that went into effect last May is holding, but travel within Angola is still risky. Several European visitors were killed by bandits in January, and most roads outside the capital city of Luanda are unsafe at night. The United States has opened a Liaison Office in Luanda, but no consular services are available and the United States does not maintain diplomatic relations with Angola. Chad: Ethnic violence and military clashes have occurred since October in the capital city of N’Djamena, plus the eastern part of the country, the central Geura Hills and north of Lake Chad. Travel outside N’Djamena is generally unsafe. Non-essential travel should be deferred. Ivory Coast: Street crime has increased in the capital city of Abidjan. Travelers should be especially cautious after dark in the Treichville area and the Plateau business district. Pedestrians should avoid the de Gaulle and Houphouet-Boigny bridges even during the day.

Somalia: Avoid all travel here. Civil war continues and much of the country is lawless. All U.S. government employees have been evacuated.

NORTH AMERICA Canada: The Centers for Disease Control’s advisory recommending immunization against meningococcal disease for children traveling to Eastern Canada has been rescinded.