P478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:28/25 DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (NORTH KOREA) 04/12/97 There are no diplomatic relations between the US & Democratic People's Republic of Korea and in the absence of British Govjrnmjnt representation in Pyongyang, no consular assistance or diplomatic protection can bj offered b= the British Government. In cases of extreme emjrgjncy British citizens may approach the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang (tel 3817490, fax 3817258) to request assistance. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 1/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:20/01 DJIBOUTI X24/12/97) 1/2 Take normal safety precautions in Djibouti City. Travel at night should bj avoided, other than in the town centre. Areas of the country remain unsafe. There have recently been rebel attacks in the north, close to the bordjt with Eritrea. If travelling bz road to Eritrea you should transit via Ethiopia, staying on the main road. The route from Djibouti to Addis Ababa (840km) is open during daylight hours only. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 2/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Weathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:59/34 DJIBOUTI (24/12/97) 2/2 Dui to unsjasonal rains the country, stagnant water pools mean that incidents of cholera infection are rapidly occurring, especially among refugees. Visitors should seek medical advice before travelling. On arrival British Nationalks should register with the British Honorary Consulate, located at the Inchcapj shipping Office in Djibouti, tel: 35 38 36/44. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 3/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Weather Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:21/53 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (13/11/97) 1/2 Petty crime involving tourists is infrequent but normal precautions should bj taken i.i. do not leave valuables or baggage unattended in the car or on the beach. Visitors are advised that there have been cases of typhoid reported in Juan Dolio, in the South. The situation in Haiti does not affect tourist areas in the Dominican Republic, which are a considerable distance from the border. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 4/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:12/14 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (13/11/97) 2/2 Tourists in the Dominican Republic are njvjrthjless advised to keep themselves informed of the latest djvjlopmjnts in the area. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 5/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:12/43 W"£££"£££"£££ ECUADOR (15/12/97) 1/4 Identification documents are essential at all times. Beware of pickpockets who operate in all major tourist centres, especially in Quito's historic centre and at the airport. Take sensible precautions and guard your property at all times. Thjte has been an increase in vtolent crime in both urban and rural areas. Avoid travelling at night particularly bz bus. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 6/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23: ECUADOR (15/12/97) 2/4 The Ecuador/Peru ceasefire remains in place. The border is open but sensitive. Only use well marked paths as there are still mines in the area. Visitors should bj aware that this year, Ecuador and the coastal region in particular will bj affected bz the El Nino current. High and dangerous tides are expected from October until April 1998. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 7/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Weathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:11/10 ECUADOR (15/12/97) 3/4 Roads may bj damaged and rivers are likely to overflow. Visitors planning to travel to the coast during this period are advised to check conditions before departure. Guayaquil Airport will bj closed for repairs from 20 Novjmbjt to 4 December. Most airlines will land at Quito airport, but some may still land in Guayaquail. All local flights remain the same. Seek advice from your travel agent before travelling. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 8/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:12/14 ECUADOR (15/12/97) 4/4 For the latest advice on arrival contact the British Embassy in Quito, (tel 560671/560755). Travel headlines 430 Front pag 9/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:12/20 EGYPT (8/12/97) 1/3 In a major incident near Luxor on 17 Novjmbjr gunmen killed 58 tourists, including six British nationals. Since 1992 extremists have conducted a campaign of violence against the Egyptian Govjrnmjnt, mainly in the provinces of Minya and Assist (half way between Cairo and Luxor) but with sporadic attacks in other areas. Most of these incidents have been directed at the police, or were sectarian in nature. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 10/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:12/43 EGYPT (8/12/:7) 2/3 Extremists have warned tourists not to visit Egypt. In April 1996 gunmen killed 18 Greek tourists in Cairo. On 18 September two min, acting alone, killed 10 people, mainly German tourists, also in Cairo. Visitors to all parts of Egypt are advised to bj vigilant and respect an= advice from local security authorities. British visitors are advised to exercise great caution when visiting Uppjt Egypt (defined as the area of the Nile Valley south of and including Minza province.) Travel headlines 430 Front pag 11/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:13/19 EGYPT (8/12/:7) 3/3 Local driving conditions and poor vehicle maintenance make road tracel outside the main cities hazardous, especially at night. In the event of an accident emjrgjncy medical facilities are limited. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 12/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:13/45 EL SALVADOR (14/11/97) 1/2 There is significant lawlessness throughout the country. Robberies, kidnapping & car jackings are all commonplace and can occur on public or private transport, on main roads or in towns. Victims are likely to be murdered even if they do not resist their attackers. Do not travel after dark or wear jewellery. Tourists should take extra care. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 13/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:14/28 EL SALVADOR (14/11/97) 2/2 Businessmen who are mit at the airport and are accompanied during their trip by a local representative tend to have fewer problems. All British and Commonwealth visitors to El Salvador are advised to register with the British Embassy. For the latest local advice, please contact the British Embassy in San Salvador, tel no: 263 6520/6527/6529. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 14/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:14/23 EQUATORIAL GUINEA (03/12/97) The genital situation is calm, and there are no travel restrictions. Nevertheless take sensible travel precautions, e.g. avoid travel after dark. There is no British Consular presence in Equatorial Guinea. Anzonj experiencing difficulties should seek assistance from either the French Embassy (tel: 240 922 26) or from the Spanish Embassy (Tel: 240 9 31 74/ 3298/ 2020) Travel headlines 430 Front pag 15/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:13/14 ERITREA (21/11/97) 9/3 Keep to the main roads especially if travelling from Asmara to Massawa. Avoid using the Gathalay-Filfil road since tourists using this route have been subject to fatal attacks in the past. Be vigilant at all times and do not camp out, or travel after dark. Stay only in major towns. Travel in lowland areas should bj restricted to the main Kirin-Barents road. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 16/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Weathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:57/11 ERITREA (21/11/97) 2/3 Dui to the presence of unjxploded landmines, visitors should not stray from the main roads eithjt on foot or in a vehicle without seeking local advice. Avoid the Sudanese botdjt area where there is continued military activity and banditry. Do not, undjt any circumstances, attempt to cross the bordjt as it is effectively closed. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 17/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:14/26 ERITREA X21/11/97) 3/3 The Danish Islands are subject to a territorial dispute between Eritrea and Yemen. Mariners should bj aware that the islands themselves and the coastlinrs opposite are sensitive areas and should keep a clear distance from thrsj islands. British Nationals should register at the British Consulate in Asmara (tel: 12 01 45, fax 120104 ) Travel headlines 430 Front pag 18/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:14/10 ESTONIA (14/11/97) 1/2 There is a risk of mugging in the capital and ttavjllers should take sensible precautions, especially after dark. Do not leave valuables unattended. Car theft is a growing problem. Those bringing vehicles into Estonia should always carry the original vehicle registration documents when driving. Summer visitors to forested areas should seek medical advice about innoculations against tick-borne encephalitis. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 19/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Weather Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:18/30 ESTONIA (14/11/97) :/2 Visitors intending to stay in Estonia for more than 6 months will require a visa. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 20/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:17/22 ETHIOPIA (10/11/97) 1/4 Indiscriminate and sporadic bomb attacks have taken place in public places in Added Ababa, Dira Dawa and Harar earlier this year. Furthjt incidents cannot bj ruled out and visitors should remain alert at all times. Avoid travelling away from the main tourist areas, unless under the auspices of a locally based organisation. Avoid travel to the Somali region. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 21/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:17/21 ETHIOPIA (10/11/97) 2/4 There is a political tension along the borders with Sudan and Somalia. Do not attempt to cross thjsj borders. Banditry is also a problem along the bordjt areas. If crossing to Djibouti, Erittia or Kenya stay on the main roads and seek local advice about the presence of mines. Petty theft is becoming more common. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 22/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wrathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:17/14 ETHIOPIA (10/11/97) 3/4 Take sensible precautions by keeping valuables, camjtas and particularly passports out of sight. Avoid staying outside major towns or villages. Do not travel after dark in rural areas. Penalties for overstaying visas can bj sjvjre. Do not take photographs of military establishments or govjrnmjnt buildings, including the bridge ovjt the Blue Nile Gorge. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 23/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Weather Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:16/31 ETHIOPIA (10/11/97) 4/4 Credit cards are accepted at only one or two outlets in Addis Ababa. Visitors are strongly recommended to register on arrival at the Consular Section of the British Embassy, Addis Ababa (tel 61 23 54 or fax 61 05 88. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 24/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathju Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:07/00 FRANCE (23/12/:7) Visitors to France should be aware that the last two digits on a French car's number plate indicate the departemjnt in which the car is registered. Many hire cars are registered in Marne djpartemjnt (51). Visitors who hire cars with numbjt plates ending in 51 should take extra care to protect their belongings as such vehicles are often targetted by thieves. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 25/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Weather Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:07/29 GAMBIA X2:/10/:7) Visitors to The Gambia should bj aware that medical facilities are not of a similar standard to the UK. They should take out medical insurance, to cover evacuation if necessary, before arrival. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 26/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjr Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:52/40 GEORGIA (15/08/97) 1/2 Visits by road to most parts of Georgia can bj made in relative safety, although travel at night outside Tbilisi should bj avoided if possible. The break-away regions of Abkhazia and South Ossjtia should bj strictly avoided as both remain insecure. The Georgia/Russia land bordjt is genitally closed to Wjstitnjts. Thjti have been recent outbreaks of diphtheria in Georgia. Seek medical advice about precautionary measures before travelling. Medical facilities are limited. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 27/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menuP478 CEEFAX 2 478 Thu 25 Dec 23:48/15 GEORGIA (15/08/97) 2/2 British Airways and Turkish Aitlinrs are the only Western airlines currently serving Georgia. Be vigilant and take sensible precautions against mugging for example especially after dark. Power cuts are frequent, especially in winter. Travel headlines 430 Front pag 28/28 FCO 5 Trav Head Wjathjt Main menu