See travel alerts that countries make for their citizens about US violence

American travelers – at least the more cautious ones – may be familiar with the US State Department’s travel warnings.

The agency monitors the world for potential problems and issues notices ranging from “Level 1: Exercise normal precautions” to “Level 4: Do not travel,” warning potential visitors of terrorist threats, war, arbitrary application of local laws, high rates of crime and other personal safety issues.

But have you ever wondered how the governments of other countries warn their citizens about coming to the United States? What kind of reputation does America have?

After all, the rate of gun-related deaths in the United States is on the rise. And mass shootings in America – 610 as of Nov. 25, according to the Gun Violence Archive – have become commonplace and make headlines around the world.

THE CNN Travel checked what the governments of the United States’ closest neighbors and allies have to say to their citizens about going there. Not exactly a flattering image.

Potential visitors are not being fully warned, as if America were an active war zone. Each nation has its own approach, but one general theme boils down to this: America is more violent than you’re used to. Learn to take precautions there that you may not need to take at home.

The other lesson: violent crime rarely involves tourists.

Here’s more on what nine countries – which account for a good chunk of US international tourism traffic – have to say:

Australia

In 1996, 35 people were killed in a mass shooting in Port Arthur on the island of Tasmania. After the massacre, Australia passed stricter gun control laws, which included “a near ban on all fully automatic or semi-automatic firearms,” ​​according to the online encyclopedia Britannica.

So, for over 25 years, Australians have lived in a gun culture very different from that of the Americans.

The Australian government warns its citizens planning to visit the United States that “violent crime is more common than in Australia and firearm crime is possible in all areas. Follow local guidelines and instructions. If you live in the United States, learn the active shooting drills”.

On its SmartTraveller website, the Australian government also reminds would-be travelers that “it is legal for US citizens to openly carry firearms in public.”

It goes on to say that “the US has a higher level of violent crime than Australia, but the incidents rarely involve tourists”. It does not provide notice of specific incidents “unless there is a significant risk to Australians”.

Still, it is not warning its citizens about traveling to the United States. On November 25, it advised “exercise normal security precautions in the United States of America”.

Canada

Canada advises its citizens to “take normal safety precautions” when visiting the United States.

The Canadian government warns its citizens against crossing the US-Mexico border by car, citing “criminal incidents associated with drug trafficking”. It tells its citizens to avoid traveling at night across the border.

He also warns of gang-related violence and organized crime in large urban areas, noting that violent crime “rarely affects tourists” but warning travelers to be aware of their surroundings and not resist if threatened by thieves.

The government also reminds Canadians of the frequent mass shootings in the United States. “Incidences of mass shootings occur, most often resulting in casualties. Although tourists are rarely involved, there is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

UK

The UK reminds prospective visitors to America that “mass shooting incidents can occur but represent a very small percentage of homicide deaths”.

It also tells its citizens that “Violent crimes, including firearms crimes, rarely involve tourists, but you should be careful when traveling to unfamiliar areas. Avoid walking alone through less crowded areas, especially at night.”

Like Canada, the UK warns about the US-Mexico border.

In the advice column, the UK warns its citizens against inappropriate humour: “Don’t make flippant comments about bombs or terrorism, especially when passing through US airports.”

Lauren Redfern, a 31-year-old London resident who is completing a doctorate in medical anthropology, made extensive trips to the United States in 2018 (Chicago to New Orleans) and 2022 (Los Angeles).

She told CNN Travel last summer that she was aware of gun violence in the United States when she started her 2018 trip, but felt a long way from it. “At that time, I absolutely wouldn’t have considered doing anything different” than what she would do in the UK.

But while staying at an Airbnb in New Orleans, she was doing laundry in a common area when someone opened a door and poked in the barrel of a shotgun.

No shots were fired, but “it was a strange, out-of-body experience that really made me think, appreciate and understand ‘oh this is very real’ to a level I have never experienced and never will in the UK”.

“This experience definitely changed my sense of personal security while traveling across the United States,” said Redfern.

That didn’t stop her from taking another trip to the United States, but it “changed the way I thought about American culture.” Now she is much less likely to venture out on her own when visiting the US as opposed to London, where she doesn’t bother to do so.

Israel

Israel is a very security-conscious country with special ties to the United States.

Issues warnings on a scale of 01 to 04, the latter being the highest risk. Israel’s travel advisories are focused on terrorism specifically targeting its citizens abroad versus more general crime concerns.

For example, people are warned to stay away from the North African nation of Algeria, which has a rating of 04 because of terrorist groups and “hostility towards Israel in Algerian streets”.

However, the United States is rated at 01 (“common precautions”) despite an increase in antisemitic incidents.

France

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes a different view.

It generally says that “the United States of America is among the safest countries”, but warns French citizens about some urban areas and notes an increase in car thefts.

Interestingly, the ministry analyzes potential threats to very specific neighborhoods. Some examples:

• In Boston, “it is recommended to avoid traveling alone, on foot and at night, in certain parts of Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury”.
• In Aanta, French visitors are instructed to “be vigilant in secluded areas of the city center (Centro de Cidade) after the closure of shops and to prefer journeys by taxi at night”.

Germany

Germany is another US ally with strong tourist ties, and it has strict gun laws and a much lower rate of gun homicides compared to the United States.

Its Foreign Office tells German citizens that “arms are easy to obtain in the United States, leading to increased gun use and occasional killings. The number of arms and ammunition purchases has increased significantly during the COVID-19 crisis.”

He also warns would-be visitors to the United States of the possibilities for domestic confrontations over racism and police violence, advising them to “avoid gatherings of people in close proximity to whom violence might occur.”

Mexico

For Americans, the Department of State’s travel advisories are a valuable resource for discovering the safest areas of Mexico to visit.

And Mexicans have their own worries about visiting their northern neighbor. (For example, one of the people killed in the Highland Park, Illinois, mass shooting at the Fourth of July parade was a visiting Mexican family.

When this story was published in late November 2022, the Mexican government’s foreign travel alert page for the United States was down. However, the research team at the CNN found US travel warnings posted on the site in May 2021.

He specifically noted that “historical racial and ethnic tension, including opposition to immigration, has led to attacks by violent extremist groups” and cited the 2019 El Paso, Texas, Wal-Mart mass shooting, in which more than 20 people were killed.

The government has advised its citizens to avoid large crowds in the United States and that travelers always carry a copy of their Mexican passport and an official photo ID.

Japan

Despite the shocking assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July, Japan has a much lower homicide rate than the United States.

So it’s no surprise that the government warns that “it is important to recognize that the security situation is very different between the United States and Japan and to understand what type of crime victims are at high risk in which areas.”

He says “one of the top security concerns in the United States is gun crime” and offers plenty of advice for getting out or hunkering down in potential active shooter situations, including:

• Find safe exits in a new location and have an evacuation plan in place.
• Run away regardless of whether others agree or not;
• Hide in a room and barricade the door using heavy furniture;
• Be quiet and turn off cell phones.

If a Japanese tourist cannot escape or hide, they are advised to “throw things near the criminal, use them as weapons; shout out; act with all your might”.

New Zealand

On November 25, Australia’s neighboring island had an “increased caution (level 2 of 4)” alert for the United States “due to the threat of terrorism”.

New Zealand’s Safetravel website warns its citizens that “there is a higher incidence of violent crime and firearm ownership than in New Zealand. In many states, it is legal for US citizens to openly carry firearms in public. However, crime rates vary considerably between cities and suburbs and incidents rarely involve tourists.”

He suggests that people coming to the United States research their specific destinations before traveling and seek local advice.

Safetravel directs New Zealanders to an active shooter response pamphlet published by the US Cyber ​​Security and Infrastructure Agency.