Romance scams, deadly wildlife: Foreign countries’ warnings for Australia

Most Australian travellers are aware of our government’s Smart Traveller advice that sorts nations into four categories from Level 1 (“exercise normal safety precautions”) to Level 4 (“do not travel”). But have you ever wondered what warnings we cop in return?

A positive common thread is that, as France puts it, “Australia is not a country with a significant security risk.” Still, every government says that terrorism is a real concern and that their citizens should be alert to petty crime, vehicle break-ins and drink spiking, all described as common.

Some additions are unexpected, such as Canada’s warning that “tour operators may not meet Canadian safety standards” or the United Kingdom’s that “some drinks served in bars in Australia can be stronger than those in the UK”. France advises against hitchhiking and tells visitors not to think of distances in European terms.

Everyone warns, too, about the dangers of swimming, outback travel, mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, and our fierce and poisonous wildlife. “The continent and its waters host animals that merit awe and respect in equal doses,” says the United States. Our wildlife is “fascinating yet dangerous”, adds New Zealand.

Bushfires, floods and extreme weather get extensive coverage. “Sudden storms and strong winds can make driving difficult,” adds the UK. Ireland and France are wary of sunburn.

You can detect national preoccupations and strengths. The UK, ironically, has a long section about our horrendous weather. The US is dismayed at highways only two lanes wide and “roads and streets … frequently narrower and less graded than US highways”. France complains about railways, which it describes as “little developed … and neither fast nor good value”.

Some governments give polite advice on social norms. China suggests visitors split restaurant bills, maintain a proper distance while queueing, bring beer to barbecues and avoid arguing.

“Regardless of wealth or status, locals treat everyone equally and typically address people by their names, using ‘mate’ rather than honorifics,” China says. “They are generally open and direct, and enjoy a humorous and self-deprecating tone. ‘No worries’ is a common expression.”

Japan, too, is struck by our “egalitarianism, known as mateship ... It is important to note that the Australian people have a strong sense of classlessness and social equality”.

Japan is, however, agitated about theft, with a lengthy section of its travel advisory telling travellers to lock and chain their hotel doors and never leave bags unattended on beaches, golf courses and buses.

Japan is especially alarmed about theft from cars, suggesting visitors “avoid parking on the street whenever possible, even in places with parking meters” and use secure parking instead. “Australia is often thought of as a relatively safe country but, compared to Japan, there is a lot of general crime,” it sighs.

China in contrast devotes its longest travel advisory section to financial and internet scams including “romantic dating scams” that lure the lonely into handing over personal information or payment. Our other problems? Domestic violence, murder, robbery, sexual assault, illegal weapons, vehicle theft and “bar fights”.

The US concurs with China on most points, including the potential for “bar brawls” and the prevalence of “internet romance and financial scams”.

Ireland on the other hand, although it finds the risk of terrorism “probable”, calls crime levels “relatively low” except in certain (undefined) “party areas” of Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

Ireland finds its own citizens part of the problem: “A significant number of Irish nationals … come before the Australian courts each year,” it laments. It cites road accidents as the leading cause of death and injury for Irish visitors in Australia.

France, meanwhile, says its consulates regularly deal with the fallout from drug use among young French visitors, with Sydney and Brisbane the hotspots. Its Brisbane honorary consulate’s proximity to Byron Bay, “a legendary stop on an Australian adventure”, is blamed for its woes.

Germany warns of potential assaults in Alice Springs, the Gold Coast, Cairns and Sydney’s Kings Cross but is otherwise pleasant, issuing only genteel warnings about snakes, credit-card fraud, “unusual emails” and theft from backpacker accommodation.

Many countries have little concern. India offers no advice, saving its ire for places such as Iraq, Myanmar and Haiti, plus hapless Canada. Mexico – which cops it from our Smart Traveller – has only vague warnings, but fingers Alice Springs for robberies and suggests Mexicans visiting Uluru should “do so as part of a tour or with a specialised guide”.

And while you’d think super-safe Singapore might have Japanese anxiety levels about crime, its travel advice is short and laid back, with tut-tutting saved mainly for vehicle break-ins in Western Australia.