The agency monitors the world for potential problems and alerts visitors with warnings ranging from “Level 1: Take normal precautions” to “Level 4: Do not travel”. to terrorist threats, war, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, high crime rates, and other personal safety issues.
but have you ever thought how Are other governments warning their citizens about coming to the US? What about America’s reputation?
CNN Travel examined what the governments of America’s neighbors and closest allies have to tell their citizens about coming here. It is by no means a flattering picture.
As if the United States were an active war zone, those wishing to visit are not completely warned.Each country has its own approach, but the general themes are: America is more violent than the country we are used to. You can learn preventive measures that you don’t have to take at home.
Another point: Violent crimes involving tourists are rare.
Here are the details on what the nine countries that make up a significant portion of US international tourism traffic have to say.
Australia
In a global lesson on guns, Fareed explores how Australia passed comprehensive gun reform in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre.
So, for over 25 years, Australians have lived in a gun culture that is very different from Americans.
“The United States has higher levels of violent crime than Australia, but tourists are rarely involved in incidents,” it said. We will not notify you of specific incidents “unless there is a significant risk to Australians”.
Still, it does not warn its citizens against traveling to the United States. As of November 25th, it is advised to “take normal safety precautions in the United States.”
Canada
The Ambassador Bridge spans the Detroit River and connects Windsor, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan. With the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, overland travel between her two neighbors in North America has resumed. But what does Canada think of mass shootings in the United States?
Tara Walton/Washington Post/Getty Images
Canada advises its citizens to “take the usual safety precautions” when visiting the United States.
It also warns of violence linked to gangs and organized crime in metropolitan areas, noting that violent crime “rarely affects tourists,” but travelers should be aware of their surroundings and It warns them not to resist even if they are threatened by robbers.
The government also reminds Canadians that mass shootings in the United States are frequent. “Shootings do occur, most of the time with casualties. Tourists are rarely involved, but they run the risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
England
“Tourists are rarely implicated in violent crime, including gun crime, but caution should be exercised when traveling in unfamiliar areas. Please avoid,” he told the public.
Like Canada, the UK has warned about the US-Mexico border.
In a column of advice, Britain warns citizens to avoid inappropriate humor.
31-year-old Londoner Lauren Redfern, a PhD in medical anthropology, made an extensive trip to the United States in 2018 (Chicago to New Orleans) and 2022 (Los Angeles).
She told CNN Travel last summer that when she began her 2018 trip, she was aware of gun violence in the United States, but felt far removed from it. “At that time, I never thought of doing anything different from what she does in England.
But while she was doing laundry in a common area while staying at an Airbnb in New Orleans, someone cracked open the door and stabbed her with a shotgun barrel.
No shots were fired, but “This strange, out-of-body experience is on a level that I’ve never had in the UK, and it really made me think, ‘Oh, this is very real,’ and appreciate and understand.” I was. .”
“That experience definitely changed my sense of personal safety while traveling in the United States,” Redfern said.
It didn’t deter her from making another US trip, but “it changed my way of thinking about American culture”. But in London you don’t have to worry about doing that.
Israel
Israel is a very security-oriented country with special ties to the United States.
For example, people are being warned to stay away from the North African country of Algeria, ranked 04, because of terrorist groups and “hostility against Israel in the streets of Algeria.”
France
It generally states that “the United States is one of the safest countries”, but warns French citizens of some urban areas and mentions an increase in carjackings.
Interestingly, the ministry analyzes potential threats to very specific areas. Some examples:
• Boston advises against walking or traveling alone at night in certain areas of Dorchester, Matapan and Roxbury.
• In Atlanta, French tourists are advised to “be vigilant in isolated areas of the downtown area after business hours and take taxis at night”.
Germany
German airline Lufthansa flies a lot of people between the US and Europe.
Courtesy AirlingRatings.com
It also warned those wishing to visit the United States of the potential for domestic clashes over racism and police violence, and “avoid gatherings of people near where violence may occur.” I am advising you.
Mexico
For Americans, the State Department travel advisories are a valuable resource for visiting safer parts of Mexico.
The government has advised citizens to avoid crowds in the United States and that travelers always carry a copy of their Mexican passport and official photo ID.
Japan
A Japan Airlines jetliner takes off from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The Japanese government has given clear instructions to its citizens on what to do in the event of a mass shooting in the United States.
Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images
Therefore, it is only natural for the government to warn that it is “important to recognize that the security situation in the United States and Japan differs greatly, and to understand what types of crime victims are at risk in which areas.” That’s what I mean.
“One of the major security concerns in the United States is gun crime,” he said, offering plenty of advice for getting out of or hiding in a potential mass shooting situation.
• Find security exits in new locations and plan an evacuation
• run away whether others agree or not
• Hide in a room and barricade the door with heavy furniture
• Keep quiet and mute your phone
If a Japanese tourist cannot escape or hide, they are advised to “bring objects close to the culprit, use them as weapons, shout, and do everything in your power.”
new zealand
As of November 25, Australia’s island neighbors issued a “high alert (level 4 of 2)” alert to the United States “due to terrorist threats.”
This suggests that people coming to the US research specific destinations and seek local advice before traveling.
