With the first travel advisory put out as a newsletter bulletin in 1978, the four-tier system that the U.S. State Department uses to evaluate the safety or danger of different countries is periodically updated as the situation on the ground changes.
While a change in advisory ranking is a major escalation usually preceded by a major event or change in diplomatic relations with the U.S., updates in response to regular changes throughout the year are put out periodically.
Recent updates have warned travelers of the slower response time in remote sections of the Maldives, the presence of unexploded mines from World War II in Luxembourg, and a rise in pickpocketing activity in Ireland.
Iceland “regularly experiences quickly-changing weather,” U.S. warns travelers
The latest advisory updates published since the start of May target two countries that regularly rank among the safest in the world for tourists: New Zealand and Iceland.
An island nation located in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Europe and North America, Iceland is described as a “generally a safe destination for travelers” but one that also “regularly experiences quickly changing weather, dangerous natural features, active volcanoes, and earthquakes.”
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The advisory, which keeps Iceland at the safest “exercise normal precautions” level, was slightly tweaked to take into account for weather particulars and petty crime in popular tourist locations that has been on the rise in proportion with higher tourist numbers.
“Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations,” the advisory reads further. “Stay aware of your surroundings. Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing.”
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“Earthquakes, floods, and landslides can happen suddenly and block roads”
The risk factors for both Iceland and New Zealand remain unchanged, but for the latter country, the State Department also tweaked the country description to add an expanded section on the weather and local environment.
“The weather can change fast, especially near the coast and in the mountains,” the summary now reads. “Earthquakes, floods, and landslides can happen suddenly and block roads or trap travelers.”
The warning reminds travelers to remember to drive on the left and be especially cautious when renting a car for long journeys through unfamiliar terrain.
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“Traffic accidents are a leading cause of serious injury and death for U.S. citizens visiting New Zealand,” the country summary now states. “Roads are often narrow, winding, and rural. Fatigue, speed, and unfamiliar conditions increase risk.”
As for every country, travelers are advised to invest in travel insurance before arriving to account for any emergency medical assistance they may need while abroad.
For both Iceland and New Zealand, the advisories are part of periodic updates but the focus on the weather in particular is unusual — save for natural disasters, they are usually issued for countries where the security situation is excellent and there is nothing on that front to add.
Both countries are also popular destinations for American travelers although, due to New Zealand’s distance from the U.S., the latter sees lower numbers due to the high cost of getting there.
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