Travel to Rakhine off limits

BANGKOK, 30 August 2017: Fatal attacks on security forces in northern Rakhine State and ongoing violent clashes with militants prompted updates to travel advisories  this week warning visitors to avoid Rakhine State.

Smarttraveller, the travel advisory service of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was the first to issue a caution on travel to the west Myanmar coastal state.

Trouble focused on Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships in northern Rakhine State. Read more

Suicide bomb attack in Jakarta

BANGKOK, 26 May 2017: Travel advisories are warning travellers of the ongoing threat of a terrorist attack in Indonesia in the wake of an incident in Jakarta, 24 May.

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Smartraveller reported that a suspected suicide bombing took place at the Kampung Melayu bus terminal in East Jakarta killing a number of police officers and injuring bystanders.

The news was overshadowed by the Manchester suicide bomb, Monday evening that killed 22 people and injured 64 people. Read more

Martial law on Mindanao Island

SINGAPORE, 26 May 2017: Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs latest travel advisory, released Thursday, warns Singaporeans to take all necessary precautions for their personal safety when travelling to Mindanao Island in the Philippines.

The Philippines Government has declared martial law on the entire island of Mindanao, 23 May, following clashes between government forces and a terrorist group in Marawi City.

Under Martial Law, the travel advisory warned enhanced security measures would be implemented, including strengthened border controls, restrictions on movement of people and vehicles, closures of public places if necessary and increased police surveillance of popular public areas. Read more

Manila explosion prompts alert

MANILA, 8 May 2017: Two explosions in the Quaipo area of Manila were reported during the early evening of Saturday 6 May prompting a new round of travel advisories.

The UK government travel advisory said reports indicate a number of fatalities and serious casualties.

It warns visitors to avoid the area of Quaipo. Read more

Attack on Philippine tourist island

MANILA, 12 April 2017: Five people including a Philippine police officer were killed Tuesday in clashes with 10 suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf kidnap group on the resort island of Bohol, authorities said.

The incursion would be the first on a major Philippine tourist destination in recent years by the Abu Sayyaf, which has long engaged in kidnappings for ransom — often targeting foreigners in the lawless southern Philippines.

Five bodies have been recovered at the scene of the fighting, Philippine military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla said on ABS-CBN television in Manila. Read more

Cebu identified in latest terror warning

MANILA, 11 April 2017: Travel advisories are warning travellers that there is credible information that terror groups are planning kidnappings in Cebu and Bohol provinces in the Philippines.

Cebu is a popular tourist destination with Asian travellers,  noted for its cultural and heritage sites.

The home-base of Cebu Pacific Airlines,  Cebu island province extends 196 km north to south and faces the island province of Bohol. Read more

Risky roads in Laos

BANGKOK, 24 January 2017: Travellers are warned to not travel overland from Vang Viang to Luang Prabang as a safety precaution, according to the latest Smartraveller advisory issued by the Australian government, Monday.

The Australian advisory did not elaborate other than to say it was recommending travellers avoid overland travel on highway 13 beyond Vang Vieng.

However, a recent Canadian travel advisory advices travellers to exercise a high degree of caution due to ongoing security concerns related to “banditry and unexploded munitions”. Read more

Travel advisory on Gambia

BANJUL, Gambia, 18 January 2017: Gambia’s president, Yahya Jammeh, declared a state of emergency Tuesday just two days before he was due to step down, as British and Dutch travel agencies scrambled to evacuate thousands of tourists.

Jammeh, who has ruled The Gambia with an iron fist for 22 years, initially acknowledged opponent Adama Barrow as the victor in December elections, but later rejected the ballot count as flawed and lodged a complaint with the country’s Supreme Court.

He declared a state of emergency due to the “unprecedented and extraordinary amount of foreign interference in the 1 December presidential elections and also in the internal affairs of The Gambia,” Jammeh announced on state TV. Read more

Thai referendum triggers advisory

LONDON, 29 July 2016: A UK travel advisory updated Wednesday, advises  against all but essential travel to Thailand’s southern border provinces and cautions UK citizens of potential unrest ahead of the referendum vote, 7 August.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) continues to identify  Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla province on the Thai-Malaysia border claiming there was a high threat from terrorism

But the travel advisory also alerts UK citizens of the potential for trouble during the 7 August national referendum on the  draft Thai constitution. Read more

Istanbul airport closed

BANGKOK, 16 July 2016:  Travel advisories issued, worldwide,  warn the security situation in Turkey remains tense.

Ataturk international airport in Istanbul is closed to inbound and outbound flights.  All Turkish Airlines flights have stopped.

Travellers are advised to contact their airline, or travel agent, for information about changing travel arrangements, including connecting flights or seeking  a refund for flights that have been cancelled.

Travellers who are currently in Istanbul   are warned to  stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Avoid any large gatherings or demonstrations. Follow the directions of local authorities.

Travellers are warned to exercise a high degree of caution while visiting tourists destination throughout Turkey and to reconsider their need to travel to Istanbul and Ankara. 

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