P481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:23/01 I LEBANON (16/10/97) 1/2 The situation in Lebanon is generally calm. Travel is inadvisable south of the city of Tyre; in the Southern Beta's Valley and in all othjt areas inside and along the botdjt of the Israeli Occupied Zone. Visitors wishing to the Baalbjck region and to the north of the Beta'a Valley should use organisjd tour groups or a local escort. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 20/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjr Main mrnuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:15/07 KAZAKHSTAN (15/12/97) 1/3 Carry ID at all times. Robbjties on road and rail transport have increased. Passengers should travel in groups and compartments should always bj locked on ovjtnight trains. There has been as increase in attacks and muggings on the streets of largrt cities, including Almaty. Do not walk alone at night or travel in unofficial taxis. Keep expjnsivr items out of sight. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 1/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:15/32 KAZAKHSTAN (15/12/97) 2/3 It is not known whjthjr maintenance procedures on aircraft used on internal flights are always properly obsjrvjd or whjthjr passjngjrs are covered bz insurance. For safety, ttavjllirs are advised where possible to fly directly to their destination on an international flight originating outside Ea;tizn Eurwpj 1nd Cjnttal Asia. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 2/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:15/57 KAZAKHSTAN (15/12/97) 3/3 Thjti has been an outbreak of cholera in South Kazakhstan Region (near Shzmkjnt). Visitors should seek medical advice before travel. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 3/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:16/22 KENYA (21/11/97) 1/7 With effect from 15 November, British passport holders require visas to enter Kenya. Visas are available at all ports of entry into Kenya as well as the Kenyan High Comission in London. A visa fee is payable. Travel headlines 430 Front page 4/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Weather Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22: 6/47 KENYA (21/11/:7) 2/7 A General Election will take place in Kenya on 29 December. Visitors should avoid political meetings and demonstrations which can become violent. In August and Sjptembjt there were a numbjt of violent incidents in Coast Province, in which local people were killed and properties buznjd. Most have occurred in a small are just south of Mombasa, near to the Shelley and Diane beach resorts. Thrti is now a strong security presence in the affected area. Travel headlines 430 Front page 5/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thy 25 Dec 22:17/12 'j $kj $kj 'k KENYA X21/11/:7) 3/7 To the north of Mombasa and furthrt south, the situation is much less tense and thjti have been few incidents. The violence appears to be directed against up-country Kenyans and not against tourists. Local tour operators and hoteliers have made extensive arrangements, in co-operation with the local authorities to safeguard tourists, but thjti remains a risk that visitors cold bj caught up in dangerous situations, particularly in the Mombasa area. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 6/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathit Main mrnuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:23/26 LEBANON (16/10/97) 2/2 Visitors are reminded that anyone with Israeli stamps on their passport should not attempt to inter Lrbanon. Photography should be limited to traditional tourist sites. Respect local custom bz dressing modestly. Visitors are advised to register with the British Embassy in Beirut upon arrival - Tel: 417007. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 21/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Weathjt Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Drc 22: </04 KENYA (21/11/:7) 5/7 Avoid travelling after dark even if drivrng your own vehicle. Avoid isolated places, particularly empty beaches. Do not carry valuables or wear jewellery in public places. Incidents of armed car-hijackings are more prevalent in Nairobi and Mombasa but can occur in any area of the country. Do not attempt to escape from hijackers or resist their demands. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 8/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathit Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:18/27 KENYA X21/11/:7) 6/7 For security reasons, and also because of the condition of the roads, visitors to Lams Island are strongly advisrd to travel by air. Road traffic hjadjd for Lams must travel in convoy on the Malindi/Garsjn/ Lams section. Avoid the North Eastern Province, the Sana river district of Coast Province and the Isiolo and Marsabit district of Eastern Province where cattle raids are frequent. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 9/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thy 25 Dec 22:17/37 KENYA (21/11/:7) 4/7 Travellers should be particularly vigilant and keep in close touch with tour operators, hotels and local azthotities. Except as othjrwisj indicated, game resjtvjs and othjt tourist areas are generally safe but muggings and armrd attacks can occur anywhere and at any time, particularly in Nairobi and Mombasa. Be alert at all times. Do not accept food or drink from sttangjrs. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 7/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:17/51 KENYA X21/11/97) 7/7 The Samburu game resjrvj has experienced an increase in banditry. Tourists wishing to visit the Samburu and Shaba game rrsjtvrs should bj accompanied by guards or tour operators. Recent storms and heavy rain havr lid to floods, which have made travel and communication difficult, especially on the coast. From 15 Novjmbjt, British passport holdjts will require visas to enter Kenya. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 10/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Weather Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:1</10 KUWAIT (04/11/:7) British Nationals should not attempt to travel anywhere near the border with Iraq. Care should bj taken when using beaches and picnic spots. Even where officially cleared there is still a danger from unjxplodjd ordnance. Both visitors and long term rtsidrnts are strongly advised to register with the Embassy on arrival (tel: 240 3334/5/6 or 240 3324/5/6/7 or 243 2046/7/8/9 ) Travel headlines 430 Front pag 11/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP481 CJEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:18/41 KYRGYZS(AN (16/12/97) 1/3 iffic lt@ ecauvj f@t te rain. n Carry ID at all times. Road travel within Kyrgyzstan is spring landslides are common in mountain areas especially in the south. Roads from Tashkent and Almaty to Bishkek can bj hazardous in winter and have no garage facilities. Passes can also bj closed temporarily dui to the weather conditions. Mugging & theft are increasing, both in cities and rural areas, some apparently committed bz uniformed police officers. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 12/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22: 0/P7 KYRGYZSTAN (16/12/:7) 2/3 Do not walk at night or travel in unofficial taxis. Keep expensive items out of sight. It is not known whethjt maintenance procedures on aircraft used on internal flights are properly obsjtvjd. Visitors are advised to fly directly to Bishkek (or to Almaty and from there bz road) on an international flight originating outside Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 13/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjt Main mrnuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thy 25 Dec 22:20/32 Wj£3kj£3kj£3k KYRGYZSTAN (16/12/97) 3/3 Visitors are advised that there havr been cases of Hepatitis A in Bishkek and Osh and of Smallpox in northeast Kyrgyzstan. Visitors should seek medical advice about inoculations. Travel headlines 430 Front pas 14/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:20/57 LAOS (21/10/97) 1/3 Visitors are strongly advised not to travel between Vang Vieng and Kari by road bjcausj of the risk of bandits attacking public transport. These problems have not affected ro d 13 north between Vientiane and Vang Vieng. Visitors should also avoid travrl on road 1 south of Mouang Khoune in Xteng Khousang provence. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 15/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:21/22 LAOS (21/10/97) 2/3 Visitors travelling outsjdj urban centres by road or river are advised to clear such travel in advance through relevant Laos govjrnmjnt offices or tourist agencies. Local advice on current conditions should be sought before travullin7. All journeys should preferably bj made by air. Travellers should also bj aware of the dangers of unexplodjd ordnance, particularly in Xieng Khouang Province (Plain of Jars) and areas of the Lao- Vietnamese border that wire formerly traversed by the Ho Chi Mind trail. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 16/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Weathjt Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thy 25 Dec 22:41/46 LAOS (21/10/:7) 3/3 Street crime is on the increase in Vietiane. Visitors should be vigilant particularly after dark. $hose intending to visit Laos should seek medical advice about endemic disjasjs before ttavjlling. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 17/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:22/11 LATVIA (04/11/:7) 1/2 Travjllets should bi alert to the possibility of mugging, theft and pickpockjting. Take sensible precautions and avoid unlit streets and parks at night. Car theft is rife. Whjtivjt possible, guarded car-parks should bj used and valuables kept out of sight. Drivers should carry original copies of vehicle registration documents when crossing the bordjt by car. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 18/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wrathjr Main menuP481 CEEFAX 2 481 Thu 25 Dec 22:43/36 LATVIA X04/11/:7) :/2 For identification purposes, carry a photocopy of your passport at all times. Winter visitors should seek medical advice about inoculations against influenza and othjt related ailments eg respiratory disease and asthma. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 19/33 FCO 8 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menu