On May 20, the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 1 travel advisory for citizens heading to Switzerland. Though a lower risk country, the advisory cautions travelers to “exercise normal precautions” when visiting the area.
There are a number of different concerns that could affect one’s travel plans if Switzerland is on the itinerary, including terrorism, crime, and alpine hazards.
“Switzerland is a popular destination for outdoor sports enthusiasts, including skiing, hiking, and mountain climbing. Alpine hazards such as avalanches and snowdrifts, landslides and flooding, glacial crevasses, falling rocks, sun exposure, and sudden weather changes are common year-round,” reads the U.S. Department of State’s website.
“Although safety standards are excellent, visitors need to be aware that public safety warnings are not comparable to those found in the United States. While hiking paths and ski slopes are clearly marked, not all possibly hazardous situations will have clear warning signs. People are expected to use common sense and caution when enjoying the outdoors.”
The Level 1 travel advisory for Switzerland adds to the seemingly growing list of advisories in European countries.
On May 12, Spain was listed as a Level 2 threat, with travelers encouraged to “exercise increased caution” when traveling to the area. The reason for the increase in threat level is listed as “terrorism and civil unrest.”
On May 13, there was a similar advisory posted for Germany, with the reason for the threat level increase being “terrorism.”
