North and Central America and Caribbean

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• The hurricane season in St Vincent and the Grenadines normally runs from June to November.  See the Natural Disasters (Hurricanes) section of this advice and Tropical cyclones for more details.
  
  
• The British High Commission in Kingstown closed to the public on 30 March 2007.  Emergency consular enquires should be directed to the British High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados .  See the General section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Around 16,500 British nationals visited St Vincent and the Grenadines in 2007 and 9,781 from January to September 2008 (Source: St Vincent and Grenadines Ministry of Tourism).  Most visits to St Vincent and the Grenadines are trouble-free.  But you should be aware that cases of robbery and other crimes do occur.
  
  
• Violent crime is a problem within local communities, and can occasionally affect tourists. Crimes include muggings, and thefts from hotels, holiday homes and in particular, yachts. See the Crime section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• There is a confirmed human case of Influenza A (H1N1) (Swine Flu) in St Vincent.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any further developments and advice. There is a dedicated Swine Flu on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu is available on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance, which includes medical evacuation, before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance  for more details.