admin On several occasions, several governments may issue travel advisories, warning their citizens against traveling to certain locations or countries. Government travel advice is basically targeted at protecting its own people against any form of threats or possible attacks that might occur in that particular location. Such advisories are only issued after the government has evaluated the security situation of such an area based on its intelligence reports.
Reasons for government travel advice
The government can issue a travel advice because of the following reasons:
• Impending and possible Terrorist attacks-This is the major reason that will make a government issue a government travel advice, when a country has suffered a terrorist attack or when it is at risk of such an attack most governments will alert their nationals not to travel to such countries or take extra precaution when visiting such countries.
• Intense civil or tribal war in that particular country-When a country is engaged in a civil strife, the situation becomes tense and the security situation is compromised. In such a situation any government that cares will warn people against traveling to such countries.
• High crime rates in that country or region-When a country is registering high crime rates like kidnappings and murder, it becomes a risky country and this may force a government to issue a travel warning against travelling to such a country.
• Social unrest-A country that is raked with demonstrations and protests is unsafe for any body and any government ought to warn travelers against traveling to such countries.
• Natural calamities like floods and earthquakes-The government can warn its people against visiting countries which have suffered or experienced floods or earthquakes or if it feels that the country is likely to suffer such tragedies.
• Disease breakouts-When there is a breakout of contagious diseases or infections in a country, the government can issue travel advices to any person planning to travel to such countries to desist from visiting such countries.
Types of government travel advice
There are two types of government travel advisories that can be issued by any government. They include the following:
Travel warnings advices
Travel warnings are normally issued to warn any individual against traveling to certain regions or countries completely. In such a situation the travel advisory will stand until such a time that the government feels that the situation has improved or changed. Some travel warnings can even last for years if the situation remains tense.
Travel alert advices
Travel alert advices are normally issued to those travelling to countries or regions that have ongoing or upcoming events like elections. The aim of such advice is to help the travelers in planning their journey and preparing for any eventuality.
In most cases, some governments will go as far as evacuating its citizens from regions or countries that are deemed dangerous and risky. Government travel advice is normally communicated to the target audience through the embassies in the targeted countries. In cases where the situation gets out of hand the government goes ahead and closes its embassies in such countries. When a government issues a travel advice it tells its nationals not to travel to such destinations until advised otherwise or to take extra caution when visiting such areas.