Travel warning
The travel warning is an official recommendation of an authority only for its own nationals , traveling in a particular country not to take or a certain area or to cancel because the travel safety is not given. Reasons for a travel warning can be unstable political, economic or social conditions or catastrophes that pose an immediate threat to travelers. The assumption that relevant factors will change in the foreseeable future and thus have a negative impact on travelers can also help to issue a warning. Below the travel warning, individual states use weaker terms such as "travel is not recommended". Travel warnings also have civil effects on contracts that are subject to the law of the warning state and are to be (at least partially) fulfilled in the state against which the warning is issued. Here the so-called doctrine of the discontinuation (or disruption) of the business basis (in Germany e.g. generally § 313 BGB, for travel contracts § 651j BGB) comes into play, the scope and limits of which, however, are not always clearly defined.
European Union
The European Union has since Lisbon Treaty enhanced competencies in foreign and security policy . Union citizens can also take advantage of the consular protection of other member states if their own state is not represented in the country of travel (Art 23 TFEU). The European Commission publishes the travel warnings of all member states on a website called "Travel Advice".
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Germany
Relevant travel information is always available from the Foreign Office . There are two escalation levels, the safety information and travel warnings:
Travel advice
Information on the entry regulations of a country, medical information, criminal or customs law peculiarities as well as general cultural or social framework conditions.
safety instructions
Attention is drawn to special risks. Safety instructions can contain the recommendation to refrain from traveling or to restrict it. We may advise against non-essential or all travel.
Travel warnings
An appeal to refrain from traveling to the country in question. Travel warnings are only issued if there is an acute "danger to life and limb". German citizens who live or are guests in this country may be encouraged to leave the country.
If the warning is still up to date shortly before entering an area, there is force majeure - an unpredictable development with considerable difficulty or danger - under this circumstance, bookings, for example a flight, can be canceled free of charge.
Information provided by the Federal Foreign Office is regularly checked to ensure that it is up-to-date and correct. Each publication is dated and is valid until further notice, however risk factors or situations can change quickly.
Basic travel recommendations
The Federal Foreign Office also provides basic recommendations: however, legal provisions are only dealt with in particular, contacting the competent diplomatic or consular representation of the target country for comprehensive, up-to-date information is recommended. In Germany, the costs of repatriation are not covered by a health insurer ; additional insurance is recommended. Costs for aid measures by the diplomatic missions abroad can be invoiced according to the Consular Act.
Crisis preparedness list
The Federal Foreign Office offers German citizens the opportunity to register online in a crisis prevention list before going abroad (electronic registration of Germans abroad, ELEFAND ). This registration, which can be used for longer stays abroad as well as for short vacations, is voluntary and free of charge. With a password, the registered can change their data or bring it up to date. The earliest registration date is ten days before the planned start of the trip.
Austria
In Austria , travel warnings are issued by the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs (BMEIA) on the basis of a decision matrix. In connection with the travel warning, Austrians who are already on site can also be called to report to the nearest Austrian representation immediately or to return home.
Such a travel warning is also the basis for a free rebooking or cancellation of trips.
Switzerland
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in Switzerland maintains a list of so-called travel advice, which contains a basic assessment of the situation for most countries in the world and, if given, references to specific regional risks. This list expressly advises against traveling to countries with a precarious security situation.
The FDFA offers Swiss nationals the opportunity to register their trips abroad online via the itineris portal. Registered people «receive a notification if the security situation in an area deteriorates significantly unexpectedly».
United States of America
In the USA , a distinction is made between Travel Warning , a rather long-term, unspecific warning, usually limited to a region or country, and the Travel Alert . The latter relates to a specific threat to US citizens, worldwide or regionally limited. The Department of State also provides general information on countries.
See also
Web links
- Current travel warnings from the Federal Foreign Office (Germany)
- Travel warnings from the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (Austria)
- Representations and travel advice , Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (Switzerland)
Individual evidence
- ↑ lebucos: Travel advice. October 26, 2018, accessed October 3, 2019 .
- ↑ www.auswaertiges-amt.de Current travel warnings
- ↑ Vacation in times of crisis. on: ADAC.de . Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- ↑ What are safety instructions? , Foreign Office . Retrieved August 3, 2013.
- ↑ Electronic registration of Germans abroad. Federal Foreign Office , accessed on August 8, 2017 .
- ↑ BMEIA decision matrix ( Memento from October 29, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Itineris . Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
- ↑ International Travel ( Memento August 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive ), Department of State . Retrieved August 3, 2013.