Canada issues travel advisories for some adventure tourism destinations
Published August 22, 2024 at 11:21 am
As the summer winds down, travellers may look for an adventure to spice up Canada’s long winter.
Trekking, surfing, scuba diving and four-wheel drive touring are fun escapes but travellers may want to check out the latest warnings before booking a trip.
The Government of Canada maintains a Travel Advice and Advisories page to help travellers make informed decisions and travel safely outside Canada.
They analyze trends and incidents affecting international travellers, monitor world events and collect updated reports from different sources.
Here are some of the countries with travel advisories:
Madagascar
Risks: High crime rate, potential for political instability and polio.
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Reasons: In addition to petty crime, there have been reports of attacks and robberies by people representing themselves as “guides”, particularly on beaches and in coastal tourist areas.
Demonstrations are frequent in Madagascar. Violent clashes between demonstrators and police have occurred.
Madagascar has more than one type of circulating poliovirus. Travellers visiting for longer than four weeks may be required to receive a dose of polio vaccine one to 12 months before they leave.
Morocco
Risks: Threat of terrorism.
Reasons: The border regions should be avoided due to heavy military presence and unstable and unpredictable security situations.
Since Oct. 13, 2023, there have been protests in Rabat, Casablanca and other cities near government buildings. The current protests are related to the ongoing situation in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Terrorist attacks have targeted foreigners. In December 2018, two Scandinavian tourists were found dead in a mountainous area of southern Morocco, 10 km from Imlil, a village in the High Atlas.
Peru
Risks: High levels of crime, social conflicts and strikes.
Reasons: Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs, particularly in Lima, in other cities and even in crowded, public areas. Theft occurs frequently in hotels, restaurants, bus stations and airports, on intercity buses and microbuses and while hailing taxis.
Each year, several hikers and climbers are victims of serious, sometimes fatal, accidents in the Andes, including at the Huayna Picchu peak near Machu Picchu and the Cordillera Blanca region in Huaraz, where Peru’s highest peaks are located.
There are reports of accidents, severe injuries and deaths involving recreational sand buggies, particularly in the sand dunes around Ica and Lake Huacachina. These vehicles are not always regulated, often poorly maintained, and safety equipment is not always available.
Tanzania
Risks: Crime, threat of terrorism and polio.
Reasons: There is a threat of terrorism, kidnappings and banditry in border areas.
Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs in busy tourist areas. Snatching from passing motorcycles or cars is frequent. Common targets are bags, jewelry, and electronics.
If you are considering climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, carefully consider the risks involved. People are seriously injured or killed on the mountain every year, and emergency assistance is severely limited.
Polio cVDPV type 2 has been reported in Tanzania. Countries with local transmission of cVDPV2 may encourage travellers visiting for longer than four weeks to receive a dose of polio vaccine one to 12 months before they leave.
Kenya
Risks: Threat of terrorism, high crime rate and polio.
Reasons: Anti-government demonstrations are occurring throughout the counties, including in Nairobi. There have been reports of barricades, looting, fatal shootings and injuries.
There is a high crime rate in most regions of Kenya, particularly in major cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, and at coastal beach resorts. Traditionally, crimes increase in the weeks before Christmas.
Polio cVDPV type 2 has also been reported in Kenya. Countries with local transmission of cVDPV2 may encourage travellers visiting for longer than four weeks to receive a dose of polio vaccine one to 12 months before they leave.
For a complete list of advisories and further information, see the website here.
Lead photo of Laguna Humantay, Peru: Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
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