The Federation of International Employers

NEW ZEALAND: Air New Zealand passengers will be affected by cancellations and rescheduled flights until around the 25^th of April due to urgent engine maintenance.

ETHIOPIA: A grenade explosion at the bus station in Ethiopia’s Moyale town, 790 km south of Addis Ababa, on the border between Ethiopia and Kenya, has killed 3 and left dozens wounded on the 17^th of April, 2018.

UK: Due to engineering work, there will be no through trains from East Anglia to Liverpool Street and Stratford on Sunday, May 6. There will be also no through trains to London, on May 26-28.

FRANCE: There are likely to be extensive Air France flight cancellations due to an industrial action staged by Air France staff.

NIGER: Please avoid travelling to all areas of the country north of the city of Abalak, including the Aïr Massif region; the province of Agadez (including the road linking Assamakato Agadez and the city of Agadez); areas of Tahoua province north of the city of Tahoua, including the city itself; the area of Tillabéri province north of Niamey, including the road from Niamey to Gao and the road from Niamey to Menaka; plus areas within 40km of the border with Nigeria in Diffa, Zinder and Maradi provinces due to terrorist attacks and kidnapping.

Spain: Pilots at Vueling airlines plan to go on 4 days of strikes during April the 25^th and 26^th and May the 3^rd and 4^th 2018.

CAMBODIA: Visitors are advised to exercise a high degree of caution throughout the country due to an increase in thefts, robberies and other opportunistic crimes.

EGYPT: Please avoid non-essential travel to Egypt due to the unpredictable security situation.

CAMEROON: Avoid all travel to the Far North region and Mayo-Louti Department in the North region due to the increased threat of attacks by extremist groups, banditry and kidnappings.

INDIA: The Chandigarh international airport will be operational from May the 18th to May the 20^th, 2018. Earlier it was announced that it would be closed for the whole period from May 12 to May 31 for construction work. 

PHILIPPINES: Visitors are advised to avoid all travel to the Mindanao Region (excluding urban areas of Davao City) due to the serious threat of terrorist attacks and kidnapping.

ECUADOR: Visitors are advised not travel to the northern border with Colombia due to crime. 

CROATIA: Zagreb’s Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG) will be closed at night for at least two months until early June 2018 due to maintenance.

KYRGYZSTAN/TAJIKISTAN: The border between both countries remains in some dispute and recent violent incidents have taken place. Visitors are advised to stay vigilant as clashes occur frequently along Central Asian borders.

ANGOLA: Visitors are advised not to travel to the provinces of Cabinda and Lunda Norte due to security concerns.

BELGIUM: Please exercise a high level of caution throughout the country due to the current elevated threat of terrorism.

PORTUGAL: Both passenger and freight train drivers are due to go on strike during 16th-17th of April, 2018.

PHILIPPINES: The Philippine’s Boracay island will be closed to visitors for six months starting April the 26^th, 2018. Philippines Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) will stop carrying Boracay-bound passengers during this period.

TURKEY: Avoid all travel to within 10 km of the border with Syria, due to a deteriorating security situation.

BRAZIL: Over the year to March the 27^th, 2018, 1,131 cases of yellow fever were confirmed in the country, of which 338 died.

ETHIOPIA: Exercise a high degree of caution in the country due to the volatile security situation. Over 1100 people have been arrested under Ethiopia’s state of emergency.

SAUDI ARABIA: There is an ongoing threat of cross-border missiles and rocket attacks from Yemen deep into Saudi territory. Reconsider your need to travel to the country.

UK: Staff on London’s Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will start a second (and longer) phase of industrial action at 4am on Friday, April the 20^thand run until 3.59am on Tuesday, April the 24^th.

KENYA: Exercise great caution in the country due to the threat of terrorist attack and high level of crime.

TIMOR-LESTE: Parliamentary elections are schedulled on the 12^th of May 2018. Visitors should stay vigilant as violence associated with campaign rallies is possible.

LEBANON: Exercise great caution during the run up to elections on the 6^th of May 2018 due to a potential risk of violent clashes during street campaigns and protests.

SIERRA LEONE: Exercise a high degree of caution in the country due to increasing levels of crime.

NEPAL: Be mindful when traveling to Nepal due to its fragile political and security situation.

MYANMAR: Exercise great caution due to the uncertain security situation and the possibility of further civil unrest.

CONGO: Visitors are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the country due to the current political and security situation.

YEMEN: Visitors are advised to avoid all travel to the Yemen due to the poor security situation and extreme risk to all foreigners.

ANGOLA:  Stay vigilant as levels of crime throughout the country are still very high. Avoid non-essential travel to the provinces of Cabinda and Lunda Norte due to security concerns.

SOUTH SUDAN: Avoid all travel due to armed conflicts, inter-ethnic violence and high levels of violent crime.

ARGENTINA: Salta international airport will be closed from the 15^th of April until the 6^th of May, 2018 for runway repairs.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Caribbean Airlines flights will be subject to delays until the 5^th of May 2018 due to the runway maintenance at Scarborough’s ANR Robinson International Airport.

FIJI: There is an outbreak of dengue fever in Nadi and the nearby town of Ba. 312 confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne virus have been recorded since the beginning of this year.

LIBYA: Mitiga Tripoli airport will close its airspace each day from midnight to 6am. This will practice will continue until the 16^th of May 2018. Exercise a high degree of caution as there remains a continuing high threat of kidnap across the whole of Libya.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Operations of the airline Pawa Dominicana has been suspended for 90 days due to non-payment of aeronautical and airport fees.

ANGOLA: Over the year to November 2017, more than 700 malaria-related deaths were recorded out of the recorded 200,000+ malaria cases. Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and severe flu-like symptoms. 

ARGENTINA: Expect public transport, national and international flights disruptions as violent protests have broken out against pension reform plans.

AUSTRIA: It is illegal to wear any clothing or object that conceals the face and makes facial features unrecognisable in a public place. It is not clear if this includes full face motorcycle helmets as legislators appear to have overlooked this use of a facial covering because it is not connected with religious adherence.

AZERBAIJAN/ARMENIA: Visitors are advised against all travel to within 5km of the border between both countries, as well as to Nagorno-Karabakh and the military occupied area surrounding it due to long-standing tensions in the area.

BANGLADESH: Visitors are advised against nonessential travel to the country due to the threat of terrorism, political demonstrations, nationwide hartals (general strikes + mass protests) and violent clashes.

BAHRAIN: UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) are not valid for entry into Bahrain. However, ETDs are accepted for airside transit and exit from Bahrain.

BOLIVIA: Exercise a high degree of caution due to the continuing political and social tensions and frequent, illegal roadblocks throughout the country.

BRAZIL: The military is now in charge of security in Rio de Janeiro due to increased violence in the city. The yellow fever outbreak continues to spread. From July the 1st, 2017 to February the 20th, 2018, 545 cases of yellow fever have been confirmed, with 164 deaths. Since July 2017 a total of 130 cases of yellow fever have been recorded in the country, of which 53 sufferers have died. Visitors are advised to be vaccinated against yellow fever before travelling to any part of Brazil or neighboring countries. Any visit to any favela can be dangerous in Rio de Janeiro. Armed clashes and shootouts between police and gangs are regular and unpredictable.

BRAZIL: São Paulo is reporting a dramatic increase in hepatitis A cases this year. Between January the 1^st and September the 16^th2017, the city recorded 517 cases of the disease – already an increase of more than 700% over the whole of 2016, when there were 64 cases.

BURKINA FASO: Visitors should avoid non-essential travel to this country due to the high threat of terrorism. The country has seen a significant increase in dengue fever cases in October 2017.  Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. 

BURMA (MYANMAR): Protests related to an Arakan national event took place in Central Rakhine on the 16^th of January 2018 and resulted in seven deaths. Stay vigilant as often violent communal tension between the Buddhist Rakhine population and Muslim Rohingya continues.

CAMEROON: There is an ongoing crisis in Cameroon. Visitors are advised against all but essential travel to Mamfe in the South West region. Avoid all travel to the Far North region and Mayo-Louti Department in the North region due to the increased threat of frequent attacks by the Boko Haram extremist group, banditry and kidnappings.

CHILE: Health officials in the Bio Bio Region of Chile are reporting a large outbreak of Salmonella that has infected many people. Salmonella bacteria can cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, and fever.

COLOMBIA: Visitors should be particularly cautious and vigilant as violence has erupted across Colombia following the expiration of a temporary ceasefire on the 9th of January, 2018 with the country’s largest active guerrilla group.

EGYPT: Avoid all travel to the Sinai Peninsula (except Sharm el-Sheikh), because of terrorist activity and ongoing military operations by the Egyptian Armed Forces.

ETHIOPIA: Visitors will not be able to buy and use Ethio Tel SIM cards in mobile devices that have not been purchased in Ethiopia or registered with the authorities from the 26^th of September 2017. 

ETHIOPIA: A state of emergency will remain in place until August, 2018. Visitors are advised to exercise a high degree of caution in the country due to the volatile security situation.

GHANA: Violence towards LGBT people by mobs and even their own family members is on the increase. It is an offence in Ghana to be part of the LGBT community and prosecution could result in a custodial sentence of between 3 and 25 years.

GREECE: Make sure you have been vaccinated against measles. 922 measles cases have recently been notified in Greece. The highest frequency has been observed in South Greece. 

HAITI: Visitors are advised to carefully consider the risks of traveling to Haiti due to its current security environment and lack of adequate medical facilities and emergency response capabilities. 

INDIA: A warning has been issued by the Kerala health department about mosquito-borne infections in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. There is also a hightened risk of water-borne diseases like typhoid, jaundice, cholera and diarrhea. Remember to take a medical prescription with you if you are going to take any medicines into the country. Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are prohibited. There is an outbreak of swine flu (H1N1) in Rajasthan. At least 88 people have died and 976 others have tested positive for H1N1 influenza so far this year.

IRAN: Since the 28^th of December 2017 there have been widespread demonstrations in Mashhad over economic issues and these have spread to several cities. Please exercise a high degree of caution and stay away from demonstrations, large crowds and areas where police and security forces are deployed.

ITALY:  As of  the 26th of September 2017, 183 chikungunya cases have been notified to the Lazio Region of Italy, which includes the coastal areas of Anzio and Latina, as well as the city of Rome. Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain. There is no cure for the disease and treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms. 

JAPAN: Remember to provide extra paperwork, such as an import licence and a previous medical prescription, if you need locally prescribed medication for long-term use.

KENYA: Following President Kenyatta’s inauguration political tensions are high and violent street protests are possible throughout the country, particularly in the western region.

LEBANON: For reasons of personal safety visitors are advised to order taxis in the traditional way, not the “virtual” way offered by an mobile app.

MALAWI: Please avoid the Mount Mulanje area due to widescale and frequent violent unrest there.

MAURITANIA: Terrorists may carry out attacks anywhere in the country, including kidnapping. Visitors are advised against all travel to the province of Tiris Zemmour (except the town of Zouérat), the province of Adrar (east of Atar), the provinces of Tagant, Hodh el Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Assaba and Guidimaka, within 25km of the Western Sahara border (except the Noukchott – Nouadhibou corridor).

MEXICO: Visitors are advised to exercise increased caution as violent crime, such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery, is widespread in the country. Take extra caution when travelling to Baja California Sur, including Los Cabos due to a rise in drug-related crime.

NIGERIA: Around 40 deaths have been recorded from Lassa fever in the country. The virus causes persistent high fever, general weakness of the body, malaise headache, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

NIGERIA: Stay extra vigilant in and around Abuja’s central business district as there have been reports that criminal gangs are intending to target foreign exchange bureaux attached to international hotels in this district. Several foreign nationals have been kidnapped in recent years, and in some cases killed. Most of these kidnaps occurred in the Niger Delta region.

NORWAY: Temporary border controls on its Schengen borders have been extended until further notice.

PALAU: Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment and repatriation in the country as serious medical conditions requiring hospitalisation or evacuation may be very expensive – so costs can escalate quickly.

PHILIPPINES: Visitors are advised against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago due to terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups.

PAKISTAN: Exercise great caution when visiting Lahore, as this city has been subjected to a number of terrorist incidents over the last year.

PERU: There have been a number of recent thefts at gunpoint affecting foreign nationals. Visitors are advised to always travel through cities in locked vehicles, minimise the carrying of valuables or money in public places, not attempt to resist attackers or to take any action that puts them at greater risk.

PERU: You are required by law to apply for an entry stamp before travelling to the country. If you are unable to provide evidence of an entry stamp you must apply for an exit or expulsion order at the Immigration Office in Lima, otherwise you may not be allowed to leave Peru, and you may be prevented from re-entering Peru for the next 10 years.

POLAND: Just a reminder for visitors to Poland. You must drive with your headlights on at all times, day and night.

SENEGAL: Business travelers should avoid the southern region of Casamance, an area ravaged by armed conflict for more than three decades. Security has been tightened following an ambush by rebels resulting in 13 fatalities on the 6th of January, 2018.

SEYCHELLES: Please make sure that you can use a different SIM card in your phone before you travel as some UK networks do not allow roaming in Seychelles.

SIERRA LEONE: Please exercise a high degree of caution throughout the country because of increasing levels of crime.

SINGAPORE: Please take heed as drunk and disorderly conduct is a serious crime in Singapore. And the penalties for drug offences are severe – including the death penalty.

SOUTH AFRICA: Train services on the Central Line in Cape Town have been suspended due to repeated vandalism. Be mindful of water consumption as the Western Cape is suffering from prolonged drought and drinking water in short supply. The death toll from the listeriosis outbreak plaguing South Africa has nearly doubled to 61 from 36 in December 2017. The food-borne disease can cause flu-like symptoms and diarrhea.

SRI LANKA: Remember to stay within the train carriage whilst the train is approaching a station platform as there have been a number of fatal accidents when passengers have hung out of the open doorways or windows of trains.

TANZANIA: All travelers entering Tanzania must now present a yellow fever certificate. This requires travelers to be vaccinated at least 10 days prior to entry.

THAILAND: Please allow more time than usual as the route from central Bangkok to Don Mueang airport as road works are slowing traffic. These are estimated to last until September 2018.

THAILAND: Make sure you have an International Driving Permit or a Thai driving licence to drive a car or ride a motorcycle in the country. The wrong licence can result in invalidated travel insurance in the event of an injury arising from an accident.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Visitors are advised to stay vigilant as it is believed by security agencies that terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in the country.

TUNISIA: Visitors should postpone visits to the country if possible as violent protests erupted in more than 10 towns and cities across Tunisia on the 8^th of January, 2018. This was in reaction to the imposition of austerity measures by the government.

TURKMENISTAN: The Russian mobile network provider MTS has suspended its mobile phone and internet service in the country after the state telecoms provider cut it off from its network. The one remaining provider Altyn Asyr doesn’t offer a roaming service and the quality of the network is low.

UAE/TUNISIA: Emirates Airlines has resumed its flights to Tunisia after over two weeks of suspension.

UAE: Your passport now only needs to have a minimum of 3 months validity from the date of transit if you are transiting the country (and not passing through Immigration).

VENEZUELA: Santa Barbara Airlines license has been suspended for 90 days.

VIETNAM: Over the year to mid-September 2017, the number of dengue fever cases in Vietnam has increased by more than 40% to almost 125,000. This includes 29 fatalities. The Vietnamese authorities have now advised that British issued International Driving Permits (IDPs) are not accepted in Vietnam.

ZAMBIA: The current Cholera outbreak has amounted to 547 cases and 15 deaths since September. 

ZIMBABWE: There are currently outbreaks of typhoid in Harare and cholera in Chegutu. Following a tightening up of policing practices make sure you use a mobile phone with a hands-free device whilst driving or you may face a fine. Stay vigilant as ongoing political developments may result in further demonstrations, especially in urban areas.