Europe
- France: Security Advisory | Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit France from September 25-28, expecting to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. A public Mass at Place de la Concorde will be held on September 26 with an expected 600,00 people, and approximately 80,00 attendees at a youth vigil at Stade de France. Extensive security measures, road closures, and transportation disruptions are expected around these events. Travelers are advised to expect significant traffic congestion, avoid event areas unless attending scheduled activities, and plan ahead.
- Barcelona, Spain: Security Advisory | Festes de La Mercè expected to cause crowding and transport disruptions across Barcelona, Spain, from September 23-27. The official city holiday will take place on September 24, with traffic congestion and road closures on the streets of Plaça de Sant Jaume and near the Cathedral expected across all days of the celebrations. Events will occur throughout different entertainment venues and plazas, drawing large numbers of residents and tourists. Travelers are advised to expect dense crowds, be aware of the risk of pickpocketing and petty theft and avoid congested areas when possible.
- Italy: Travel Advisory | Transportation workers to stage a national strike from September 25 to 26 in Italy; expect mass transportation cancellations and delays. Rail and ferry services are expected to strike from 9:00 PM September 25 to 9:00 PM September 26. Local public transportation will likely be affected from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM on September 26. However, Italian law requires essential trains to be operational from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, and from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Travelers are advised to confirm their required services are in operation and move cancelled or delayed flights and local transportation. Travelers should monitor local transportation updates for any essential trains that are running.
- France: Travel Advisory | Protesters will gather in France, from September 24-25 to strike over job security and schedule instability. Major unions will strike over job security fears roughly affecting 12,500 employees, lasting up to half a day on September 24. The main pilots union will strike from September 24-25, prompting pilots to walk out and join to protest schedule instability. This two-day protest will have impacts nationwide, with heavy impacts on major airports including Paris-Orly, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Lyon, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, and Toulouse. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to avoid all gatherings and demonstrations. Travelers should plan alternate routes to circumvent protest locations. In the event that flights are cancelled, refer to your travel guide for instruction and rescheduling. Continue to monitor local media for up-to-date information.
Americas
- Belize: Security Advisory | On September 21, Belize will celebrate its 45th Independence Day, marking when the nation gained independence from the United Kingdom. Citizens will participate in parades and ceremonies across the country. Streets across the country will be closed for parades. This is a popular time for tourists to visit, so expect larger crowds. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to monitor local events and advisories in their area. Exercise increased caution in large crowds and expect serious traffic delays due to road closures and more people traveling.
- Rosario, Argentina: Protest Advisory | Leftist protesters will gather in Rosario, Argentina, on September 27 at 4:00 PM to denounce the Milei government. The protest will take place at Club Sportivo América and be led by Frente de Izquierda, Argentina’s leftist electoral coalition. Attendance is expected to be high as calls for large-scale action have grown throughout the country in recent weeks. Similar protests have been peaceful, but small scuffles are possible and can cause incidental risks to bystanders. This event follows the September 19 “March of Anger,” when over 70,000 protestors marched through the capital, Buenos Aires, and other Argentine cities against right-wing President Javier Milei’s economic and labor policies. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to expect a heightened police presence in Rosario throughout the September 26-27 weekend. They should avoid all protests and reroute travel to circumvent roads surrounding Club Sportivo América.
- Buenos Aires, Argentina: Protest Advisory | Students and staff at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) will strike starting on September 21 and ending on September 25. The strikes are focused on gaining better wages for professors after negotiations between the Milei administration and the unions failed to reach a compromise on wage increases. The strikes are part of a larger series of protests throughout the next month, sponsored by the Association of Professors of the University of Buenos Aires (UDUBA) and the Association of UBA Staff (UPUBA). Strikes are expected to last roughly 24 hours, with each day being devoted to a different department within UBA. The UBA Rectorate will strike on September 21, the Faculty of Medicine on September 22, the Faculty of Architecture on September 23, the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry on September 24, and the Faculty of Engineering on September 25. The turnout and exact location of the strikes is unknown, though events are expected to occur on or near the UBA campuses. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to avoid all protests and expect disruptions to travel. Travelers should also monitor university sources for updates on disruptions to classes and activities during the strikes.
- Mexico City, Mexico: Weather Advisory | A tropical disturbance, currently called Invest 99E, is expected to make landfall in Western Mexico between September 23 and September 25. Meteorologists predict that the storm will likely become a tropical storm or a Category 1 typhoon before it makes landfall. The exact date and location of the storm’s landfall is unknown. Due to the unknown strength and trajectory of the storm, Mexican officials have issued a large warning area across most of Mexico’s Western coast. Any severe escalations may lead to evacuations from coastal areas to inland. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to monitor the situation through local media and government reporting.
Asia & Pacific
- Hong Kong, China: Travel Advisory | On the evenings of September 24, 25, and 26, from 7:00 PM till 10:00 PM, China celebrates the Fire Dragon Dance, a 500+ year old tradition including a 219-foot fire dragon, made up of 12,000 burning incense stickers, and over 300 performers, celebrating prayers for peace and safety. This festival will take place in the narrow neighbourhood of Tai Hang, in Victoria Park, pitches 4 and 5, near Wun Sha street. Expect significant roads and activity near the area and expect increased activity near Victoria Park on September 25 due to an extended fire dragon dance. SafeAbroad travelers plan travel accordingly and expect road blockages.
- Australia: Travel Advisory | Qantas ground workers, represented by the Transport Workers’ Union, intend to conduct 24-hour strikes across Australia from September 23 to 24 due to an ongoing labor dispute regarding pay and working conditions. Workers in Victoria are scheduled to strike on September 23, with those in the rest of Australia following on September 24. Most of the participating employees support Qantas Freight operations, while a smaller group provides ground services for QantasLink flights at Sydney Airport. Qantas mainline domestic and international passenger flights are not expected to be directly affected by the industrial action. Qantas has implemented contingency measures to minimize disruption, and as of September 18, no specific passenger flight cancellations have been confirmed. However, QantasLink travelers using Sydney Airport may experience delays or operational changes if the strike proceeds. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to confirm travel and monitor media for updates and alerts.
- Tokyo, Japan: Security Advisory | The Nezu Shrine Grand Festival is scheduled to open on September 26 in Tokyo, Japan. The festival will take place northwest of Ueno Park at Nezu Shrine, bringing together portable shrines, food stalls, and musical performances. This year’s edition is especially significant because the grand shinkōsai procession, held only every four years, will take place on September 27. The portable shrine will depart from the shrine grounds at 9:00 AM and return at 4:00PM after being paraded through the surrounding neighborhood. The free festival is expected to be peaceful and lively but localized congestion and minor transit delays around Nezu and Sendagi stations of the Chiyoda line, and Tōdaimae station on the Namboku line are expected. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to plan routes in advance and allow for additional travel time.
- New Delhi, India: Travel Advisory | Ganesh Visarjan (Anant Chaturdashi) will take place on September 25, marking the culmination of the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Processions will move through the city toward designated immersion sites including artificial ponds set up across areas like East Delhi, Mayur Vihar, and Dwarka, since immersion in the Yamuna is prohibited. Localized disruptions and traffic congestion is expected through the 10-day festivities. Delhi police have issued a traffic advisory and will deploy personnel to manage congestion related to the festival. Travelers are advised to avoid heavily trafficked procession routes and are strongly encouraged to utilize the Delhi metro to bypass road closures.
Africa & Middle East
- South Africa: Travel Advisory | On September 24, South Africa celebrates Heritage Day. The major national holiday will see a surge in domestic travel. The increase in traffic and domestic travel activity is expected to extend through the weekend, from September 25-27. Major cities, highways, airports, and popular tourist destinations are likely to experience increased congestion during the holiday period. Travelers are advised to plan ahead and schedule around traffic delays and large crowds around popular tourist destinations.
- Agadir, Morocco: Travel Disruption | Agadir will host TOC Afrique, including the African continental selections for the Bocuse d’Or and Pastry World Cup, from September 22-24. The three-day event will bring culinary teams and delegations from six African countries to venues across the Agadir region, including the Palais des Congrès Les Dunes d’Or in Taghazout Bay. Increased visitor activity is expected around event venues, with localized traffic congestion and higher demand for transportation and accommodation. Travelers are advised to allow additional time when traveling around Agadir and Taghazout Bay and monitor local traffic conditions for potential delays.
- KwaZulu Natal, South Africa: Weather Advisory | Expect severe thunderstorms in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, from 12:00 PM on September 21 to 12:00 AM on September 22. The South African Weather Service has designated the thunderstorms a Warning Level 2 and anticipates flooding on localized roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure. Travelers should anticipate slippery conditions and poor visibility, which may cause driving accidents. Weather reports have also warned of high-risk fire conditions in the Nama-Khoi Municipality, Northern Cape, on September 21, although they have not quantified the risk with a warning level. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to avoid roads and bridges that are impacted by flooding and stay indoors, if possible, in case of hail or lightning. Travelers in the Northern Cape are advised to monitor local news regarding fire outbreaks.
- Morocco: Security Advisory | The Moroccan government will hold its general parliamentary election on September 23 in Rabat, Morocco. The election will involve 27 political parties, many of whom have conflicting priorities. With only 1/3 of Moroccans trusting their parliament, activists from non-elected parties are expected to protest against the elected majority. Expect heightened law enforcement activity and travel delays throughout Rabat. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to avoid any election-related events and crowds. Travelers should monitor local news to plan around travel disruptions and potential political unrest.
