President, Boycott Watch
Boycott Watch has previously reported the dangers associated with travel to Aruba in our coverage of the Aruba boycott inspired by the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Now the US State Department has issued a travel warning to spring breakers that goes beyond just Aruba, and it should be addressed to all travelers to the Caribbean in general. Much of the warning echoes Boycott Watch reports about Aruba.
Boycott Watch believes the timing of the State Department safety notice is poor. By the time it was released, many students have not only purchased their travel packages, but in many cases are already there. We also believe that the notice was triggered in part because of Boycott Watch President Fred Taub discussed these exact same issues on Your World with Neil Cavuto on the Fox News Channel, resulting in political pressure for the State Department to say or do something.
Start of US State Department warning
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
February 20, 2008
International Travel Safety Information for American Students
As spring and summer breaks approach, many students are getting ready for a trip abroad. The following information will help students plan a safe and enjoyable adventure.
First, a note about U.S. passports: As of January 23, 2007, everyone traveling in and out of the United States by air needs a passport. We encourage students to apply now! Processing times are traditionally faster in February.
As of January 31, 2008, all U.S. residents, age 19 and older, will be required to show proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate, and a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license - or a passport - when traveling to Western Hemisphere countries by land or ferry. (Persons age 18 and younger will need proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate - or a passport - when traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the countries of the Caribbean by land or ferry.) This also applies to sea travel if cruises begin or end outside of the United States. Students planning cruises should also be sure to confirm document requirements with their cruise line.
As soon as summer 2009 U.S. citizens entering the United States by land or ferry will need either a U.S. passport; a U.S. passport card; or a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI.
Information about the new regulations regarding travel by air, land and sea, as well as general information about traveling abroad, can be found on the Department of State's website at travel.state.gov.
Travel safety is a major concern. Although most students will have a safe and enjoyable adventure, others may encounter serious problems. Each year, more than 2,500 American citizens are arrested abroad - about half on narcotics charges, including possession of very small amounts of illegal substances. Alcohol also can cause trouble for U.S. citizens traveling abroad. Students have been arrested for being intoxicated in public areas, for underage drinking, and for drunk driving. Some people are victimized because they are unaware of the laws, customs, or standards of the country they are visiting.
Disorderly or reckless behavior can have serious repercussions. Acts that are legal at home in the United States could lead to arrest and prosecution in foreign countries. Some Americans go abroad assuming that local authorities will overlook such conduct because they are American citizens. This is simply not the case. Americans who violate the laws of the countries they visit may be arrested, and they could face severe penalties, including long prison sentences. In fact, some countries have mandatory death sentences for drug offenses.
Being arrested is not the only thing that can go wrong on a foreign vacation. Americans have been badly injured or have been killed in automobile accidents, falls, and other mishaps. Many of these incidents are related to alcohol or drug use. Other Americans have been sexually assaulted or robbed because they found themselves in unfamiliar locales, or were incapable of protecting themselves because of drug or alcohol use, or because they were the victim of a "date rape" drug.
The most common cause of death of Americans overseas, other than natural causes, is by motor vehicle accidents. Standards of safety and supervision overseas may be different from those in the United States. Many Americans have died after automobile accidents on bad roads and after falls from poorly-fenced balconies. Americans should also exercise caution when swimming or engaging in water sports. Obey signs and flags and stay out of the water when red or black flags are posted.
Standards of safety and supervision overseas may also be different at hotels and resorts. Be cautious in pools or at beaches without lifeguards. Do not dive into unknown bodies of water, because hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death. If you choose to swim, always exercise extreme caution. Rent from reputable operators and insist on sufficient training before using equipment like scooters, jet-skis, scuba gear and personal watercraft. The exercise of simple common sense can help prevent serious accidents.
More safety tips for students traveling abroad can be found on the web at travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/safety/safety_2836.html. Beginning March 1, 2008, please also see the State Department's new website for American students traveling overseas, studentsabroad.state.gov., for safety, travel, and registration information.
Students are strongly urged to register their foreign travel on the State Department's website at https://travelregistration.state.gov before the trip begins. Travel registration makes it possible for the State Department to contact a traveler if necessary, whether because of a family emergency in the United States or because of a crisis in the foreign country.
For further information contact:
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs
Press inquiries: (202) 647-1488
Internet address: travel.state.gov; studentsabroad.state.gov
Public inquiries: toll-free (888) 407-4747
Office of Policy Coordination and Public Affairs
Press inquiries: (202) 647-1488
Internet address: travel.state.gov; studentsabroad.state.gov
Public inquiries: toll-free (888) 407-4747
RELATED NEWS
Michigan State senior Paul Bonenberger avoided temptation during this island's season for wild spring break partying by leaving his passport at home. "I've heard tons of (stuff) about the border," said Bonenberger, 21, two beers in hand and surrounded by hundreds of Midwestern spring breakers on the beach. "I've heard it's unsafe. I'm not about the border anymore, it's not worth the risk." Once, most South Padre spring breakers visited nearby Matamoros, Mexico, for the touted "Two Nation Vacation."
But news of gun battles between soldiers and drug cartels in Mexican border cities this winter appears to have reached even the frigid campuses of the upper Midwest. Tourists have not been targeted, but students and tourism officials on both sides of the border say spring breakers are keeping their toes in U.S. sand this year.
The young, tan masses have not been surveyed lately, but Dan Quandt, executive director of the island's convention and visitors' bureau, said "we have noticed over the past few years a decline in the number of students going to Matamoros." Debra Fassold, who manages a cross-border shuttle service, said she used to ferry several hundred spring breakers daily and now gets only a few dozen. She has canceled night trips. "I've had no reason to schedule them this year," Fassold said, adding that no one has even asked for the once-popular excursion.
Those partying on South Padre Island said they opted to stay domestic this year not just because of safety concerns, but also because of tighter identification requirements for returning to the U.S. Rachel Padgett, of Austin, has been coming to South Padre Island for more than half her life. It was traditional to go over to Matamoros for a haircut and to shop for jewelry, but not this year, said the 21-year-old Michigan State student. "Not right now, there's a drug war," Padgett said.
Students from the University of Texas and Texas A&M descend on South Padre this week, the apex of spring break on the dune-covered island off the coast of South Texas. Matamoros and other border cities in Mexico are now patrolled by Mexican soldiers sent to the border to quell drug cartel violence. Their armored personnel carriers and machine guns are far from inviting. Arturo Morales, tourism promotion director for Matamoros, said the military is there to protect residents and tourists. Morales said fewer spring breakers were visiting the city across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, but said spring breakers need to learn more about the military's security role. Morales noted Winter Texans — northerners who spend the winter in Texas and then return home in the spring — have become accustomed to the military presence and continue visiting border cities.
Some students have crossed the border without worry. Joseph Cook and Ariela Ruiz, students at Evangel University in Missouri, enjoyed a day of shopping and sight-seeing on the recommendation of the concierge at their hotel. They drove to Brownsville, walked across the bridge and took a taxi to Matamoros' main market area. They saw federal soldiers stopping and checking cars, but had no problems. Asked if anyone had warned them about going to Mexico, Cook said: "Just my parents. They said 'be careful.'"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080310/ap_on_re_us/spring_break
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