Europe
- Salzburg, Austria: Travel Advisory | The Salzburg Festival, one of Austria’s largest folk festivals, will occur from July 26 to August 2. This event is expected to draw in 200,000 to 250,000 visitors, with the highest attendance expected at the Siemens Festival Nights. Major travel disruptions are expected, with trains from Munich to Salzburg experiencing ongoing construction and the City of Salzburg banning non-regional vehicles from driving in Old Town. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to avoid the Salzburg Old Town and plan alternative travel routes in advance. Travelers should maintain situational awareness when in large crowds.
- East Midlands, United Kingdom: Travel Advisory | East Midlands Railway workers will strike in East Midlands, United Kingdom, on August 1, 8 and 15 over concerns regarding the safety and reliability of the operator’s Class 810 fleets and potential technical issues. The strike is part of an ongoing dispute and is expected to disrupt passenger rail services across the East Midlands, with potential cancellations, reduced schedules, and travel delays. SafeAbroad travelers should confirm train schedules before departure and allow additional time for journeys on strike days. Travelers should plan alternative means of travel and anticipate delays due to heightened demand for other means of transport.
- France: Weather Advisory | France is forecasted to experience a heatwave beginning on July 29 with risk of heat related injury and significant travel disruptions elevated. The highest temperatures are expected to be concentrated in Paris, Bordeaux, and Toulouse with peak temperatures in the ranges of 100.4°F and 104°F. Due to the weather, railways will run at reduced speeds and cause delays of 30 minutes to two hours. Authorities advise citizens to stay hydrated and to keep shutters open only at night when the temperature is cooler. SafeAbroad travelers should follow all official directives and monitor updates on Météo-France or Santé publique France.
- Krakow, Poland: Travel Advisory | The Ironman race will be taking place across the city of Krakow on August 2. Athletes and spectators from around the globe will gather to experience the Ironman 70.3 race. The race consists of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run. To ensure that the race goes smoothly, there will be roadblocks and closures across the city. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to plan routes before setting out and monitor the Ironman site for planned closures. Travelers should anticipate travel delays across the city and maintain situational awareness when moving around the race locations.
Americas
- Ontario, Canada: Disaster Advisory | There are 139 wildfires burning across northwestern Ontario, 30 of which remain out of control. Fire hazards remain high across most of northwestern Ontario and moderate in western Ontario, with hot, dry, and windy conditions continuing to fuel wildfire activity. In addition to large-scale evacuations, localized disruptions such as road closures, reduced visibility from heavy smoke, power outages, transportation delays, and interruptions to essential services are expected as emergency crews work to contain the fires. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to monitor updates from the Ontario Forest Fires website and follow all directives issued by local emergency authorities. Travelers should also avoid non-essential travel to areas affected by active wildfires whenever possible.
- Lima, Peru: Protest Advisory | A human rights protest will take place in Lima, Peru, on July 28. Hundreds of protesters are expected to gather in Lima’s city center to denounce human rights violations. The demonstration, organized by relatives of victims and survivors of these violations, will oppose President-elect Keiko Fujimori’s call for national reconciliation and call on the government to prioritize efforts to locate more than 19,000 missing persons. Localized traffic disruptions are likely in and around the city center before and during the demonstration. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to avoid all protests and demonstrations, plan alternative routes, allow additional travel time, and monitor local media for updates on disruptions.
- Bridgetown, Barbados: Travel Advisory | Crop Over, Barbados’ largest cultural festival, will enter its busiest period during the week of July 27-August 2, culminating in major concerts, cultural events, and the Grand Kadooment Parade on August 3. Tens of thousands of residents and international visitors are expected to attend festivities across Bridgetown and surrounding communities. Authorities are expected to implement extensive road closures, enhanced security, traffic diversions, and crowd-control measures, particularly around the National Botanical Gardens, Spring Garden Highway, and central Bridgetown. Travelers should expect significant transportation delays, limited parking, increased demand for taxis and accommodations, and crowded public spaces throughout the week.
- Peru: Security Advisory | Heightened security and demonstrations are expected across Peru ahead of and during President-elect Keiko Fujimori’s inauguration on July 28. Supporters of defeated candidate Roberto Sanchez have called for nationwide demonstrations after Sanchez initially disputed the election results before later conceding defeat. Additional rallies and protests in Lima will disrupt travel, particularly near government buildings and major public squares. Authorities will likely increase police deployments, implement road closures, and cause traffic delays, especially in Lima. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to avoid demonstrations, government buildings, major public squares, and political gatherings. Travelers should monitor local media, leave the area if demonstrators or security forces begin to gather, and follow all law enforcement commands.
Asia & Pacific
- Hachinohe, Japan: Security Advisory | Over one million people will attend Hachinohe Sansha Taisai in Hachinohe, Japan, from July 31 to August 4. Also called the Three Shrine Festival, Hachinohe Sansha Taisai is a Shinto festival and UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage. The festival will include three float parades, exhibitions, and a Kagami-ryu Kiba Dakyu tournament. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to respect local customs and traditions, maintain situational awareness in crowded areas, and anticipate travel delays and heightened security in the vicinity of the festival.
- Seoul, South Korea: Security Advisory | Over ten million visitors are expected to attend the Hangang River Summer Festival from August 1 to August 16. The event spans across nine major Hangang River parks in Seoul, centered around Mangwon, Jamsil, Yanghwa, and Nanji, and will feature 18 different programs under the theme: “The Closest and Most Refreshing Getaway.” Activities include boat making and racing, traditional Korean slackline performances, a paddleboard marathon and waterside DJ festival, and a jazz and drone show by the Han River, among other events. Enhanced security measures and updated security infrastructure will be implemented across Seoul for the duration of the festival period, including 24-hour patrols by Hangang safety officers, staffed station booths at key event sites, brighter street lighting, and increased CCTV cameras along high-traffic zones. SafeAbroad travelers should anticipate significant congestion near the festival locations and surrounding streets and plan alternate routes in advance to mitigate delays. Travelers navigating in the vicinity of festival events should abide by all official directives and dial 1330 in case of emergency.
- Incheon, South Korea: Travel Advisory | The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival will take place at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park from July 31 to August 2. As South Korea’s largest rock music festival, the event attracts over 150,000 visitors annually. Gates open to the event at 1:00 PM each day, with performances starting on the main stage at 2:00 PM, and headliners taking the stage from 10:00 PM to roughly 11:00 PM. Free on-site parking is available via internal shuttle buses, operating between the parking areas and venue grounds every twenty minutes from 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM daily. SafeAbroad travelers should expect heightened congestion and heavy delays along nearby roads during headliner closing times around 10:30 PM each night. Travelers attending the event are advised to utilize public transit to mitigate travel disruptions.
- Thailand: Security Advisory | Thailand observes two major consecutive Buddhist public holidays this week: Asalha Bucha Day (commemorating Buddha’s first sermon) on July 29 and Khao Phansa (the start of Buddhist Lent) on July 30. Both days are public holidays, meaning businesses, government offices and banks will be closed, and temples will draw large crowds for merit-making and evening ceremonies. The period also brings a strict nationwide ban on alcohol sales, meaning bars close, and shops and supermarkets cannot sell alcohol for two full days. Additionally, the holidays coincide with the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival (July 24 to August 2), whose main parade days are July 29 and 30, drawing large crowds to northeastern Thailand (concentrated in Ubon Ratchathani, Isan, Thailand). SafeAbroad travelers are advised to plan around the 48-hour public holiday closures, anticipate heavy crowds and congestion in Ubon Ratchathani and around any major temples, behave respectfully at religious sites, and maintain situational awareness in crowded areas.
Africa & Middle East
- Gauteng Province, South Africa: Protest Advisory | The National Taxi Alliance has threatened to strike on July 28 due to disagreements over the issuing of taxi licenses with the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. The strike will disrupt transportation services throughout Gauteng Province, including Johannesburg and Pretoria. The National Taxi Alliance represents both taxi and minibus operators. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to make alternate travel arrangements for July 28. Travelers are advised to avoid any demonstrations in relation to the strike.
- Morocco: Security Advisory | On July 30, Morocco will celebrate Throne Day, the anniversary of the coronation of King Mohammed VI, symbolizing the unity between the King and the people. At the Royal Palace in Rabat, high-profile government officials will pledge their allegiance to the King in the bay’ah ceremony, and then the King will address the nation in his annual televised Royal Throne Speech. Throughout the rest of Morocco, local communities will host military parades, decorate streets and put on firework displays in honor of the King. Government offices and most businesses will also be closed for the holiday. The festivities inspire a lot of domestic travel within Morocco, and festivities will result in road closures, large crowds, and heightened security measures. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to expect large festivities and travel disruptions due to the holiday. Travelers are advised to be culturally sensitive to the holiday’s traditions.
- Nairobi, Kenya: Travel Advisory | From July 31 to August 2, The Amiiru Cultural Festival is a three-day cultural festival that will take place from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM daily in Nairobi. The event is hosted at the Carnivore Grounds and celebrates indigenous Ameru culture through music, dance, and community events. Traffic congestion and transit delays are likely around the festival venue through connecting roads and the Southern Bypass, particularly during the opening and evening performances. SafeAbroad travelers should allow for additional time when traversing the festival area. Travelers attending the event are advised to respect local customs and traditions.
- Greater Accra, Ghana: Security Advisory | From July 27 to July 29, the Electrical Company of Ghana (ECG) will conduct a series of scheduled maintenance from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. Power outages are likely across the Accra West region, including Dansoman, Oshiyie, and Ga Odumase. Similar planned outages occurred in the Tema, Western, Ashanti, and Eastern Regions on July 23 to July 24 as ECG continues maintenance to support grid reliability and meet growing electricity demand. Temporary disruption to power-dependent infrastructure will likely cause localized travel delays and reduced availability of essential services. SafeAbroad travelers are advised to confirm the status of essential services before travel and monitor the official ECG website for updates for the latest outage information.
