foreign and commonwealth office

Travel Advice: Tropical Cyclone Idai strikes Malawi and Mozambique, causing widespread flooding – advice and info

News TeamMarch 14, 2019

Tropical Cyclone Idai has already killed 111 people in Mozambique and Malawi - and has yet to make landfall. Severe flooding has led to the Government of Malawi...

AfricaTravel Warnings + AlertsWeather

Travel Advice: Balinese New Year to shut down island for 24 hours – no flights, no internet, public spaces closed, stay indoors

News TeamMarch 6, 2019

On Thursday the island of Bali will shut down for 24 hours as locals observe the Hindu New Year, known as Nyepi. All public spaces - including beaches, sho...

Laws + CustomsSoutheast AsiaTravel Warnings + Alerts

Travel Advice: Weekly protests scheduled for Thursdays in Albania – monitor media, avoid demonstrations

News TeamFebruary 26, 2019

Protests are continuing in Albania, with weekly demonstrations planned for Thursdays in Tirana. If you are in or are heading to Albania soon, make sure you factor these rallies and their potential impact in to your travel plans. From the UK Foreig...

EuropeProtests + DemonstrationsTravel Warnings + Alerts

Travel Advice: Ongoing heavy rains in Chile cause landslides, flooding – monitor weather, follow SERNATUR

News TeamFebruary 21, 2019

Intense rain has caused widespread flooding in Peru, triggering landslides and destroying roads, homes, and other significant infrastructure. The heavy rains ar...

South AmericaTravel Warnings + AlertsWeather

Travel Advice: Mauritius threatened by Tropical Cyclone Gelena, as Tropical Storm Funani decreases – advice + info

News TeamFebruary 8, 2019

Tropical Cyclone Gelena is set to pass close to Mauritius over the weekend and a class II cyclone warning is currently in place. Tropical Storm Funani is in the...

AfricaTravel Warnings + AlertsWeather

Travel Advice: FCO updates advice for Mali, warns of terror threat and ongoing kidnap risk

News TeamJanuary 29, 2019

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office has updated the travel warning for Mali, underlining the terror threat in Bamako. The new advice states that 'terrorists are very like to try to carry out attacks in Mali,' and that people should remain vigila...

AfricaK + RTerrorismTravel Warnings + Alerts

Travel Advice: Authorities impose new curfew in Yendi, Ghana, following ongoing local unrest

News TeamJanuary 24, 2019

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated travel advice this week to reflect a new curfew that is in place in Yendi, in northern Ghana. Local news reports ...

AfricaTravel Warnings + Alerts

Travel Advice: Police fire live rounds at protestors during general strike in Zimbabwe – advice and information

News TeamJanuary 15, 2019

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing protests and unrest, after the government increased fuel prices by 150% over the weekend. Unions called a three day general s...

AfricaTravel Warnings + Alerts

Travel Advice: Protests continue in Kerala over women visiting temple – advice and information for travellers

News TeamJanuary 7, 2019

Multiple governments have issued travel warnings as protests continue in Kerala after several women visited the Sabarimala temple. Visitors are advised to monitor local media and to avoid crowds. India Today reports that 'despite an Indian Supreme...

Protests + DemonstrationsSouth AsiaTravel Warnings + Alerts

Tropical Storm Pabuk is set to hit southern Thailand later today, with the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the path of the storm. Koh Samui will likely be affected too. We have pulled together information and travel advice to help keep you safe. For more news and coverage, and for lots of travel tips and travel safety advice, please visit Safe Travels Magazine.

Travel Advice: Tropical Storm Pabuk to hit southern Thailand today – advice and information for travellers

News TeamJanuary 3, 2019

Tropical Storm Pabuk is set to hit southern Thailand later today, with the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in the path of the storm. Koh Samui will likely be...

Southeast AsiaTravel Warnings + AlertsWeather

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office recently updated the travel advice for visitors to Ecuador to reflect an increase in the number of robberies on interstate transport and at bus stations in major cities. For more news and coverage, and for lots of travel tips and travel safety advice, please visit Safe Travels Magazine.

Travel Advice: Travelling around Ecuador? FCO warns of increase in robberies on interstate routes, offers advice

News TeamDecember 19, 2018

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office recently updated the travel advice for visitors to Ecuador to reflect an increase in the number of robberies on interst...

Travel Warnings + Alerts

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued new travel advice for visitors to the Xinjiang region of China. Beth writes about this and the oppression of the Uighur people. For more news and coverage, and for lots of travel tips and travel safety advice, please visit Safe Travels Magazine.

Travel Advice: FCO travel advice for Xinjiang region of China and a personal note about the oppression of the Uighurs

News TeamDecember 18, 2018

Normally we write the travel advice posts for this website in a politically neutral fashion, trying to share actionable advice while leaving the moral judgement elsewhere. With this piece, I wanted to write it from my account, because I felt that mor...

East AsiaNewsPoliticalTerrorismTravel Warnings + Alerts

Italy is a beautiful country to visit and the perfect destination for a winter break. If you are one of the lucky people headed in that direction, make sure you heed the latest advice from the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth. Thieves target travellers because they know there is a decent chance tourists will be carrying cash, cameras and other valuable items. For more news and coverage, and for lots of travel tips and travel safety advice, please visit Safe Travels Magazine.

Travel Advice: Planning a Christmas trip to Italy? FCO says keep an eye on luggage, especially during airport transfers

News TeamDecember 18, 2018

Italy is a beautiful country to visit and the perfect destination for a winter break. If you are one of the lucky people headed in that direction, make sure you...

CrimeEuropeTravel Warnings + Alerts

On Monday, the Ukrainian parliament voted to impose martial law for 30 days in ten provinces bordering Russia, Belarus and Moldova's "breakaway republic" of Trans-Dniester. Martial law will start at 9am on Wednesday 28th November and run until the 27th of December. For more news and coverage, please visit Safe Travels Magazine.

Travel Advice: Ukraine declares martial law in border and coastal regions – advice and information

News TeamNovember 27, 2018

On Monday, the Ukrainian parliament voted to impose martial law for 30 days in ten provinces bordering Russia, Belarus and Moldova's "breakaway republic" of Tra...

EuropeNewsPoliticalTravel Warnings + Alerts

Travel Advice: Nationwide demonstrations in Nepal until Saturday – remain alert, avoid crowds

News TeamNovember 22, 2018

Biplov, the Nepal Communist Party, is holding demonstrations and rallies across Nepal from Wednesday until Saturday. Political rallies have turned violent in the past, so you should avoid crowds and remain aware of your surroundings. Travel advice ...

South AsiaTravel Warnings + Alerts

Travel Advice: Nationalist march confusion in Warsaw as Poland marks 100th anniversary of independence on Sunday

News TeamNovember 9, 2018

On Wednesday the Mayor of Warsaw, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, banned nationalists from marching through the city on Sunday due to security fears. On Thursday, a co...

EuropePoliticalTravel Warnings + Alerts

Travel Advice: Papua New Guinea prepares for APEC Leaders’ Week – info on visa changes, travel disruption

News TeamNovember 5, 2018

Papua New Guinea has already suspended the Visa on Arrival service, ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week, which starts on Monday ...

Aus, NZ + PacificPoliticalTravel Warnings + Alerts

The latest news on protests from Safe Travels Magazine, offering travellers and travel safety professionals information, news, advice and insights to help keep travellers safe.

Quick Read: Islamists Protest Acquittal In Blasphemy Case For Third Day After Talks Fail

News TeamNovember 2, 2018

Hard-line Pakistani Islamists blocked roads in major cities for a third day on November 2 in protest against the acquittal of a Christian woman on death row for blasphemy allegations.... Read the full article at the publisher's site: https://www.rfe...

Quick Read

Pakistan is voting in an election on Wednesday, against a backdrop of terrorism and allegations of military corruption. This beautiful image of the Pakistani flag by Sameer Akhtari on Unsplash is used to illustrate our article.

Travel Advice: Blasphemy protests likely to continue across Pakistan – avoid crowds, be aware of potential for violence

News TeamNovember 1, 2018

Protests broke out in Pakistan on Wednesday following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Asia Bibi's death sentence in a blasphemy trial. Thousands have t...

NewsProtests + DemonstrationsSouth AsiaTravel Warnings + Alerts

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the US State Department have both warned about the likelihood of terror attacks and abductions in Niger. For more coverage, please visit Safe Travels Magazine.

Travel Advice: FCO and State Department warn that terror attacks and kidnappings ‘very likely’ in Niger

News TeamOctober 24, 2018

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the US State Department have both warned about the likelihood of terror attacks and abductions in Niger. Plea...

AfricaK + RTravel Warnings + Alerts

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office has updated travel advice for Burkina Faso, warning against travel to regions bordering Mali and Niger. Terrorist groups operate across the Sahel and terrorism remains a very real possibility. For more news and coverage, please visit Safe Travels Magazine.

Travel Advice: FCO advises against travel to eastern border region in Burkina Faso

News TeamOctober 17, 2018

The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office has updated travel advice for Burkina Faso, warning against travel to regions bordering Mali and Niger. Terrorist groups operate across the Sahel and terrorism remains a very real possibility. Make sure your t...

AfricaTerrorismTravel Warnings + Alerts

Wednesday 17th October is Dessalines Day in Haiti, and many people will be marking the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines with parades and protests across the island. There is concern that these protests could become violent. More on this and other travel safety news at Safe Travels Magazine.

Travel Advice: Haiti marks Dessalines Day on Wednesday, protests expected – advice for travellers

News TeamOctober 16, 2018

Wednesday 17th October is Dessalines Day in Haiti, and many people will be marking the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines with parades and protests across the isl...

Mexico, Caribbean + Central AmericaProtests + DemonstrationsTravel Warnings + Alerts

Series

Feature: Anja Shortland at King’s College London – Inside the ransom business – why kidnapping rarely pays

Feature: Eleanor Beevor at the IISS – The Allied Democratic Forces: the DRC’s most deadly jihadist group?

Feature: Pascal Michel at SmartRiskSolutions GmbH – Travel risk lessons from a kidnap