#1 U.S. Issues Travel 'Warning' for Switzerland
发表于 ： 2025年 5月 20日 22:00
The United States Department of State has issued a new travel advisory for a foreign country, and it's a nation that many travelers visit from America each year.
The new advisory on Tuesday says that Switzerland is now a "Level 1" country in terms of travel, which means that travelers are meant to "exercise normal precautions."
Travelers have been instructed to sign up for alerts from the U.S. Embassy in Bern, to read the country security report for Switzerland and to prepare for emergencies as they would while traveling to any other country.
The country security report says that travelers should watch out for "petty crime" during their stay in Switzerland, particularly in larger cities like Geneva.
"The most common types of criminal activity include shoplifting, pocket picking, petty theft, and larceny," the State Dept. says.
"These crimes are particularly prevalent in transportation hubs and tourist areas. Exercise good situational awareness and take common sense precautions with belongings when out in public, especially in larger cities, to mitigate risk."
The State Dept. also noted that pickpockets often work in pairs - one to distract the victim while the other actual steals their belongings.
Kidnapping was not noted as a threat, but the State Department noted Bern as an area of low threat for terrorism and political violence, while giving Geneva a medium rating for both scenarios.
"Extremists have long viewed Switzerland as a place for planning, funding, and providing logistical support for terrorist operations, but the country had long avoided the terrorist attacks that have stricken other Western European nations," the department noted, adding that "spontaneous acts of violence from jihadist-inspired individuals" were the main source of terrorism in Switzerland.
"Lone-actor perpetrators pose a serious risk due to their ability to remain undetected, at times, until operational; their willingness to attack civilians and soft targets; their ability to inflict significant casualties with weapons that do not require specialized knowledge, access, or training; and their unpredictability. "
"The global call for self-radicalization, whether disseminated on extremist forums or via social media, continues," the department said.
As a busy summer travel season prepares to start in a matter of days, we'll see if travelers decide to heed the warning form the state department, or if they choose another country to travel to.
The new advisory on Tuesday says that Switzerland is now a "Level 1" country in terms of travel, which means that travelers are meant to "exercise normal precautions."
Travelers have been instructed to sign up for alerts from the U.S. Embassy in Bern, to read the country security report for Switzerland and to prepare for emergencies as they would while traveling to any other country.
The country security report says that travelers should watch out for "petty crime" during their stay in Switzerland, particularly in larger cities like Geneva.
"The most common types of criminal activity include shoplifting, pocket picking, petty theft, and larceny," the State Dept. says.
"These crimes are particularly prevalent in transportation hubs and tourist areas. Exercise good situational awareness and take common sense precautions with belongings when out in public, especially in larger cities, to mitigate risk."
The State Dept. also noted that pickpockets often work in pairs - one to distract the victim while the other actual steals their belongings.
Kidnapping was not noted as a threat, but the State Department noted Bern as an area of low threat for terrorism and political violence, while giving Geneva a medium rating for both scenarios.
"Extremists have long viewed Switzerland as a place for planning, funding, and providing logistical support for terrorist operations, but the country had long avoided the terrorist attacks that have stricken other Western European nations," the department noted, adding that "spontaneous acts of violence from jihadist-inspired individuals" were the main source of terrorism in Switzerland.
"Lone-actor perpetrators pose a serious risk due to their ability to remain undetected, at times, until operational; their willingness to attack civilians and soft targets; their ability to inflict significant casualties with weapons that do not require specialized knowledge, access, or training; and their unpredictability. "
"The global call for self-radicalization, whether disseminated on extremist forums or via social media, continues," the department said.
As a busy summer travel season prepares to start in a matter of days, we'll see if travelers decide to heed the warning form the state department, or if they choose another country to travel to.
