Is it safe to travel? With all the travel warnings from the US
State Department, there are many travelers asking this question. There are 4
levels of warnings. Level 1 means exercise normal precautions. Level 2,
exercise increased caution; Level 3, reconsider travel, and Level 4, do not
travel. But what do the warnings really mean?
Most of the Middle East and Russia are Level 4, which means “do
not travel”, which is understandable since there are wars in the region and
terrorist activities. The war between Israel and Pakistan has completely
stopped travel to the area and there is no end in sight.
This has even disrupted
travel to Israel, which many religious groups travel for Holy Land tours.
Cruising has also been disrupted because of safety concerns,
as many cruises tour the Eastern Mediterranean Sea with Israel as a port. Other Cruises use the Suez Canal, including
many world cruises, which come through the Red Sea and into the Mediterranean
Sea. This disruption is because of
fighting in Yemen and terrorists attacking ships in the Gulf of Aden. We will not go into the politics of this, but
it is causing disruption in the tourism and shipping industries around the
world.
The Middle East is not the only area that has travel
warnings. Closer destinations, where many
travel to, have also been hit with travel warnings. Jamaica, a close and popular destination for
Americans, has been issued a Level 3, “Reconsider Travel warning”. 4.1 million tourists visited Jamaica in 2023
both by cruise ship and by plane. Jamaica,
known as the Culture capitol of the Caribbean, has beautiful beaches blue
water, delicious food, and is rich in history and culture. But the country also has a problem with
violent crimes, armed robberies, and sexual assaults. Between Jan 1 and Feb 3, 2024, there have
been 83 murders, which is high, but considerably lower than the 109 in the same
time frame in 2023.
The Bahamas is another popular spots in the Caribbean, with
over 8 million visitors in 2023. It has been issued a level 2 warning, “exercise
increased caution”, in January due to increased gang on gang violence resulting
in a high homicide rate. Other crimes
include armed robberies and sexual assaults in both tourist and non tourist
areas. Just recently, 2 female cruise
passengers were drugged and raped at a resort in Freeport, Grand Bahama.
There have been violent crimes all over the Caribbean,
Mexico, and tourist destinations around the world. Which is why people continue
to ask, is it safe to travel? If the
State Department issued the same warnings for some of our own cities here in
the US, there would be many cities with level 2, 3, and 4, including Houston,
Chicago, New York, Baltimore and many others.
The key to being safe is to travel with groups and do not
wander off alone. Stay aware of your surroundings and be mindful
of your surroundings at all times, especially in crowded or unfamiliar areas.
Trust your instincts and avoid any situations that feel unsafe. And keep your
valuables hidden an don’t flash lots of money around while shopping.
The key is to use common sense, if it looks like a sketchy place, don’t
go. There are plenty of tourist areas
that are safe and protected, and would make you feel more comfortable. A large portion of these countries’ revenue
comes from tourism, and they will protect the tourist areas more than other
areas.
Cruise lines have dedicated tours, and secure ports for cruisers.
Jamaica and the Bahamas have shopping secure areas set up for the cruisers so
they won’t have to go out of the port for those who do not feel safe. Resorts have security measures in place, not
even allowing cabs to drive up to the resort until they have been cleared by
showing ID’s and have the guests name.
I travel a lot with my family and there are lots of places that we will
not go to outside of the tourist areas unless we are with a guide. That is the same for us traveling whether we
are going to New York, Cancun or even Houston.You must be aware of your surroundings and follow your gut
instincts.
My answer to the original question is yes, travel is safe. It as safe as
it is around our local areas, as long as you are vigilant and aware, you should
be fine. If you have any concerns about
an area, call 777 Travel at 281-541-1301 and we can help you and also guide you
to the best places to stay. 777 Travel
does not charge any fees and can sometimes save you money and/or headaches
during the booking process. And remember, we turn DREAM vacations into Reality.