Venezuela: Bandits arriving at a tourist beach by boat robbed 300 tourists at gunpoint before fleeing the beach in a stolen fishing boat. The tourists at Arapito Isla Beach on the Caribbean coast 190 miles east of Caracas were forced to hand over their valuables to seven gun-wielding bandits, but no one was injured. The country has a very high rate of violent crimes; tourists should use caution while traveling and refrain from taking valuables to public places.
United Kingdom: Officials reported that hate crimes against transgender people have risen dramatically across the country, up 66 percent in the last year. Though the increase is high, advocacy groups estimate the numbers to be much higher, as transphobic hate crimes are severely underreported. Harassment, assault, rape and robberies were among the crimes reported. Trans men and women should be alert and aware of their surroundings while traveling, and report all such attacks.
India: Winter weather conditions, including extreme cold and fog, led to poor visibility and some travel delays in Delhi, Amritsar, Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna. The late December cold spell also led to at least 25 deaths and affected conditions in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Kashmir Valley. At least 130 flights were canceled in and out of Delhi, and approximately 100 trains were delayed or rescheduled in the region. Tourists should follow local weather reports and be aware that severe weather in the area can cause travel disruptions.
West Africa: Health officials announced that the Ebola epidemic is likely to continue throughout 2015, even though mortality rates have declined in recent weeks. Meanwhile, cases of malaria continue to rise in the region, with 15,000 fatal cases in Guinea alone. Doctors in the region are reluctant to test for malaria, because it shares many symptoms with Ebola, including fever, dizziness, head and muscle aches, so many cases go untreated and result in death, particularly in children younger than 5. Tourists should avoid areas with high rates of Ebola and take added precautions against malaria while traveling in west Africa.
China: Travelers hoping to write home to loved ones should be aware of potential issues with Gmail accounts while in the country. After months of disruptions to Google access in China, anti-censorship advocates reported that Gmail access showed a sharp decline there starting Dec. 26. The country has the world’s most complex censorship program, known as the Great Firewall of China, and travelers should be aware of the possibility that Internet and email access could continue to be disrupted.
Compiled from news services and travel sources. For updates, check with the State Department at 888-407-4747, travel.state.gov.
