I have rarely felt uncomfortable or insecure when traveling – even if it is off the beaten path. However, global conflicts and climate crises, ranging from a series of coups across Africa to earthquakes and floods in catastrophe-prone countries, have affected international travel patterns in recent months. But if you’re checking your government’s Not To Travel list, you should not miss the opportunity to enjoy our fascinating world. Is it safe to travel abroad? Absolutely, if you follow some guidelines.
A combination of research and common sense will help you avoid any unwanted incidents. The U.S. State Department issues travel advisory levels for more than 200 countries globally, continually updating them based on a variety of risk indicators such as health, terrorism and civil unrest. Travel advisory levels range from Level 1, which means exercise normal precautions, to Level 4, which means do not travel there.
Also, the British government has a comprehensive list of travel advise. So has most other governments.
When abroad, pay attention to your surroundings. Even in our home cities, we have dark alleys we avoid at night. Only 10% of countries – 21 total – have a Level 4: “Do Not Travel” advisory as of October 2023. In Level 4 countries, governments may have “very limited ability” to step in should travelers’ safety or security be at risk. Crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and terrorism are common risk factors associated with Level 4 countries.
But there are so many opportunities to see other parts of the world (just follow our new series Scandinavian Explorers), and if you use the same common sense when you are traveling as at home, you should indeed follow your travel bug.
If you’ve taken the time to plan a dream Scandinavian vacation, the last thing you want is to get sick while you’re away. If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t take health and safety precautions lightly. It doesn’t take much for a virus to pass from one person to another, especially now that many COVID safety precautions have been lifted. In this article our contributing writer, Ainsley Lawrence, gives us some good advise.
Research Your Destination Beforehand
Understanding local cultures, rules, laws, crime rates, weather conditions, attitudes, etiquette, price of things and similar information is important. Read local reports on the internet and follow up on current events, especially any political unrest. With more than 2,500 articles, you can find lots of information by visiting https://www.dailyscandinavian.com/. Use our search function to the right in our top bar.
Few things are more exciting than traveling internationally. When going abroad, you experience all the beautiful cultures that make up our world. Many people are wary of international travel, fearing that it is dangerous. For the most part, traveling throughout the world is very safe.
Scandinavian countries have an excellent reputation among tourists, as found in a 2008 article published in the journal, Scandinavian Studies, by Eric Schaad. In particular, Scandinavia is a place that is famed for its order and safety. However, there are some stubbornly myths, and here our contributing writer Karoline Gore is debunking some of the myths about Scandinavia.
Yes, some areas of the world will require you to use increased caution when visiting, but don’t let some “do not travel” countries rob you of the desire to experience the many wonderful travel experiences that are just waiting for you.
Is It Safe To Travel Abroad? written by Tor Kjolberg