An Important Warning Was Just Made to Those Hoping to Travel to Europe
Throughout the year, the U.S. State Department issues recommendations about the safety of international travel. They are intended to advise Americans about dangers surrounding, for example, the civil war in Syria, terrorist threats in Somalia, or armed robberies in Venezuela. But this season, they've issued an alert that's particularly striking: It's for the entire continent of Europe.
"We are alerting U.S. citizens to the risk of potential terrorist attacks throughout Europe, targeting major events, tourist sites, restaurants, commercial centers and transportation," reads the statement. "The large number of tourists visiting Europe in the summer months will present greater targets for terrorists planning attacks in public locations, especially at large events." The alert ends on August 31, 2016.
The recommendation comes months after the devastating terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels. France is still operating under a state of emergency following the tragedies of November 2015, but they will still play host to the Euro Cup this summer, a month-long series of soccer tournaments that rival the World Cup and Olympics in terms of attention. "Euro Cup stadiums, fan zones, and unaffiliated entertainment venues broadcasting the tournaments in France and across Europe represent potential targets for terrorists, as do other large-scale sporting events and public gathering places throughout Europe," the statement continued.
In addition to the Euro Cup, the State Department also cautioned Americans about the Catholic Church's World Youth Day in Poland, as well as the Tour de France, both held this July.
Of course, a travel alert doesn't mean you can't go, or even shouldn't go: It just asks Americans to take extra precautions and stay informed of local politics while traveling to Europe. Travel to Europe hasn't suffered very much since the terror attacks in fact, the strong American dollar and cheap oil prices mean that this is an exceedingly cheap time to go. But with this latest warning coming on the heels of yet more frightening Zika news, it's starting to feel like a staycation is the best destination there is.
Vocabulary Words:
1. Intended - (adj.) What you are trying to achieve or reach.
2. Striking - (adj.) Interesting and unusual enough to attract attention.
3. Devastating - (adj.) Causing a lot of damage and destruction.
4. Precaution - (noun) Something that is done in advance in order to prevent problems or to avoid danger.
5. Come on the heels of - (idiom) If something comes on the heels of something, it follows very soon after it.
Discussion Questions:
1. What are the impotances of travel advisories?
2. When travelling, do you read travel advisories about thee area you are about to travel to? Why or why not?
3. Do you think terrorist threats will stop? Why do you say so?
4. What ｃountries do you think receives travel threats?
5. What ｃountries would you never travel to? Why?
