When planning your upcoming vacation with family or friends, it is recommended to exercise heightened caution when traveling to the following destinations. Here are some of the most recent advisories issued by the Canadian government:
Costa Rica
Risks: Frequent petty crime.
Reason: Tourists are often targeted by pickpockets and purse-snatchers, perceiving them as affluent. Passport theft is also prevalent, especially during peak tourist seasons (November to May and July to August). Thieves often operate in pairs, with one diverting the victim’s attention while the other steals their belongings. Additionally, areas like Alajuela, Limón, Puntarenas, and San José witness drug trafficking, violent crimes, and frequent murders.
Honduras
Risks: Frequent petty crime, gang-related violence, and civil unrest.
Reason: Popular tourist regions, bus terminals, airports, shopping complexes, hotel lobbies, and outdoor dining areas are common places for pickpocketing and petty crime. Criminal organizations are active along the coastline, engaging in illegal activities such as theft, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and kidnappings. Many residents in Honduras are armed, posing a threat. Areas to exercise extreme caution include San Pedro Sula, Choloma, La Lima, La Ceiba, Colón, Gracias a Dios, Olancho, and Yoro.
Malaysia
Risks: Threat of criminality and terrorism.
Reason: Tourist hubs and areas around the airport are prone to petty crimes, including pickpocketing, purse snatching, and snatch-and-grab incidents, often involving motorcycle-riding thieves. An increased risk of kidnapping and violence exists in the east coast of Sabah, from Kudat to Tawau. Terrorism threats are prevalent, with potential targets including government buildings, places of worship, airports, public spaces, tourist attractions, eateries, bars, shopping centers, markets, hotels, and other areas frequented by foreign nationals.
Cuba
Risks: Petty crime, assaults, and thefts from hotel rooms.
Reason: Chronic shortages of basic necessities, including food, medicine, and fuel.
Dominican Republic
Risks: Petty and violent crime.
Reason: Common petty crimes like pickpocketing and bag-snatching, with tourists often targeted, especially during holidays. Thefts occur at resorts, beaches, airports, bus stations, and public transportation. Even all-inclusive hotel rooms and safes are not immune. Drive-by robberies involving motorcycles, scooters, or bicycles are prevalent.
Trinidad and Tobago
Risks: Frequent violent crime.
Reason: Cruise ship passengers and tourists are targets for pickpocketing, purse snatching, shootings, kidnappings, and gang- and drug-related violence around Port of Spain docks. These crimes increase during Carnival, Christmas, and Tobago Jazz Festival. Vigilance is necessary in areas like Laventille, Beetham Gardens, Sea Lots, Corcorite, Carenage, Morvant, Savannah Park, Fort George, La Brea (Pitch Lake), and Las Cuevas Beach.
Bahamas
Risks: High crime rates, particularly in Freeport and Nassau.
Reasons: Crimes against travelers include armed robberies, burglaries, purse snatchings, theft, fraud, and sexual assaults. Poorly regulated water sports rental industry, with serious injuries reported from jet skis and other watercraft.
France
Risks: Elevated terrorism threat.
Reasons: Protests against police violence have caused service disruptions, transportation issues, vandalism, and arson. Opportunistic and premeditated attacks have led to casualties in recent years.
For more information on countries with travel advisories, please refer to the Government of Canada website.