Global traveler safety and hygiene concerns

Travelers have raised various concerns regarding hygiene, safety, and overtourism at popular destinations. Initial reports highlighted the risks of tourist traps in cities like Paris and Venice, where crowds and pickpocketing are prevalent. Guidance was provided for hotel hygiene, such as inspecting rooms for bed bugs and disinfecting high-touch surfaces.

Subsequent warnings focused on food and water safety. In Egypt, travelers were advised to prepare for gastrointestinal illnesses by using bottled water and carrying specific medical supplies. In Turkey, reports emerged of significant hygiene and food quality issues at a five-star hotel in Konaklı, where guests experienced vomiting and moldy conditions.

In response to issues surrounding medication, Egyptian authorities have implemented stricter regulations to combat the illegal export of controlled substances, a practice referred to as ‘medicine tourism’ valued at approximately one billion dollars. The Ministry of Health and the Drug Authority have expanded a ‘black list of controlled substances,’ targeting medications previously easy for tourists to acquire without oversight.

Certain potent sedatives, such as Night Calm, now require a prescription from a local doctor or hotel medic. In tourist hubs like Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh, purchasing these medications without a prescription makes them illegal to export. Attempting to transport such substances—including strong painkillers, ADHD medications, stimulants, anti-anxiety drugs, and steroids—is classified as smuggling and may result in imprisonment.