Canada issues travel advisories for the first week of 2024

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Published January 5, 2024 at 1:10 pm

travel advisories canada 2024

As the cold weather sets in, many people dream of a sunny getaway but you may want to check out Canada’s latest travel advisories before making plans.

The weather has been dreary with barely any sun in weeks. The winter is a popular time for Canadians to plan a trip.

There are a few places travellers may want to avoid.

The Government of Canada Travel Advice and Advisories page was updated in the first week of January.

Here are some of the countries with new or updated advisories:

Mexico

Risks: Regional risks of criminal activity and kidnapping.

Reason: Travellers should avoid Guerrero State due to the precarious security situation following damage by Hurricane Otis. There is a threat of armed violence, banditry, and looting in cities and on roads. But this advisory excludes the cities of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and Taxco, where you should exercise a high degree of caution.

People should also avoid the following areas due to high levels of violence and organized crime:

  • all Chihuahua
  • all Colima, except the city of Manzanillo
  • all Coahuila, except the southern part of the state at and below the Saltillo-Torreón highway corridor
  • all Durango, except Durango City
  • in Guanajuato – Highway 45 between León and Irapuato, and the area south of and including Highway 45D between Irapuato and Celaya
  • all Michoacán, except the city of Morelia
  • in Morelos – the Lagunas de Zempoala National Park and surrounding areas, and the municipality of Xoxocotla
  • in Nayarit – the area within 20 km of the border with Sinaloa and Durango, and the city of Tepic
  • all Nuevo León, except the city of Monterrey
  • all Sinaloa, except the city of Mazatlán
  • all Sonora, except the cities of Hermosillo and Guaymas/San Carlos and Puerto Peñasco
  • all Tamaulipas
  • all Zacatecas

Thailand

Risks: Political demonstrations, regional risk, monkey pox

Reasons: Visitors should exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand due to ongoing political tensions and sporadic demonstrations in Bangkok and elsewhere in the country.

People should avoid the following southern provinces due to the unpredictable security situation. Separatist insurgents periodically perpetrate violent attacks.

  • Narathiwat
  • Pattani
  • Songkhla
  • Yala

Clusters of mpox (monkeypox) cases have been reported in several countries outside of Central and West Africa where mpox is usually found (endemic).

Brazil

Risks: Crime rates and regular incidents of gang-related and other violence in urban areas.

Reason: Tourists are most commonly affected by theft but incidents of violent crime have also occurred, due to the high prevalence of guns coupled with the willingness of criminals and police to resort to violence.

The advisory suggests tourists be vigilant when visiting beaches, markets, hotel grounds, bars and nightclubs, and airports and bus stations. People should avoid wearing expensive jewellery, watches and clothing.

Crime rates are highest in urban centres, particularly in areas adjacent to impoverished neighbourhoods of:

  • Rio de Janeiro
  • São Paulo
  • Brasilia
  • Recife
  • Salvador

Dominican Republic 

Risks: Crime

Reason: Violent crime occurs regularly, especially in major cities. However, tourists are most at risk for opportunistic crime such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching. Incidents commonly occur at resorts, beaches, airports, bus stations, and on public transportation.

Also of note is that as of Oct. 30, the Government of the Dominican Republic reopened its air border with Haiti. Land and sea borders with Haiti remain closed to travellers.

Zimbabwe

Risks: Polio, crime and the risk of civil unrest.

Reason: The World Health Organization released an updated statement on the international spread of poliovirus for several countries including Zimbabwe. Travellers visiting for longer than four weeks may want to get a dose of polio vaccine one to 12 months before they leave.

Zimbabwe also has a risk of civil unrest due to demonstrations, usually in the central business district and high density suburbs of major cities such as Harare and Bulawayo. They have led to violence in the past.

United Kingdom

Risks: Terrorism, monkey pox

Reason: Terrorists have carried out attacks in several European cities. In the United Kingdom, people have died in attacks in public areas, such as knife and vehicle attacks as well as explosions. These incidents have occurred mainly in the London area but have also happened elsewhere.

Clusters of mpox (monkeypox) cases have been reported in several countries outside of Central and West Africa where mpox is usually found (endemic).

For a complete list of advisories and further information, see the website here.

Photo: Oleksandr P

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