Canada has sharpened its travel advice for a growing list of popular destinations, with France now joining Sweden, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Germany, the United Kingdom and others in a cluster of countries flagged for elevated security, political volatility and persistent criminal activity that increasingly targets international visitors.

The latest advisories highlight an overlapping mix of terrorism fears, organized theft rings, civil unrest, cyber scams and regional conflict, underscoring how even classic “safe” vacation spots are facing heightened scrutiny from Canadian officials.

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France Moves Into the Spotlight as Terrorism Concerns Mount

France has become the latest high-profile country to draw a strong caution from Ottawa, with Canadian authorities urging travelers to exercise a high degree of caution across the country due to what they describe as an elevated threat of terrorism. The updated advisory, issued in early May 2025, cites a pattern of opportunistic and premeditated attacks in recent years that have resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, as well as government assessments that further incidents are likely. The advisory stresses that attacks could occur in locations frequented by tourists, making foreign visitors especially vulnerable.

The change in tone is notable for a country that remains one of the world’s most visited destinations. While Canadian officials stop short of telling citizens not to travel to France, they explicitly warn that the security environment is tense and fluid. Travelers are urged to maintain a constant awareness of their surroundings, monitor local media and be prepared to quickly follow instructions from French authorities if incidents unfold in major cities or near well known attractions. The message aligns with stepped up domestic security measures, including the Vigipirate national alert system and a visible presence of soldiers and police at transport hubs and iconic sights.

At the same time, Canada’s own detailed advisory for France underscores how day to day risks often intersect with broader security concerns. Officials warn that petty crime is widespread in urban centers, particularly in and around Paris. Highly skilled pickpocketing teams frequently target crowded metro and RER lines, intercity rail routes, department stores and landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower or Louvre, with scammers and distraction techniques a common feature of tourist complaints. Violent robberies and group assaults, though less frequent, are noted around major attractions, train stations and some suburban rail corridors at night, a reminder that the terror spotlight sits atop an already challenging safety landscape.

Sweden and Italy Illustrate the New European Risk Map

France’s inclusion in Canada’s higher risk category comes after a series of escalations involving other European favorites. In autumn 2025, updated guidance from Ottawa placed Sweden and Italy among a group of destinations where Canadians are urged to exercise a high degree of caution, citing a mix of crime, civil unrest and terrorism concerns. The move reflects a broader reassessment of what used to be perceived as low risk, highly predictable environments for vacationers from North America.

In Sweden, Canadian officials highlight persistent petty theft alongside a sharp uptick in organized, gang related violence in major cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Police there have grappled with gun attacks, retaliatory shootings and incidents involving explosives, some of which have occurred in public areas including restaurants and bars. While tourists are rarely direct targets, authorities warn that being in the wrong place at the wrong time is a growing concern, particularly as demonstrations and political protests add an additional layer of unpredictability to urban life.

Italy, for its part, faces a different but overlapping set of risks. The Canadian advisory for Italy stresses that pickpocketing, bag snatching and burglary are common in crowded tourist zones, train stations, buses, historic centers and coastal resorts, with thieves frequently using staged spills, unsolicited assistance or orchestrated distractions to separate visitors from their belongings. The lead up to the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is expected to bring intense crowds and heavy security across northern Italy, especially at transport hubs and venues. Travelers are warned to anticipate disrupted movement, intense screening measures and an environment where opportunistic thieves capitalize on confusion and congestion.

Saudi Arabia and Regional Tensions Drive Strongest Warnings

Beyond Europe, some of Canada’s sharpest language is reserved for Saudi Arabia, where regional conflicts and internal security operations have pushed risk levels to some of the highest on the Canadian advisory scale. As of late April 2025, Ottawa has reiterated that travelers should exercise a high degree of caution throughout Saudi territory, while explicitly discouraging or advising against travel altogether in specific border regions near Yemen and Iraq. These zones have been subject to missile and drone attacks, as well as sporadic militant activity, trapping any foreign visitor in a volatile security environment.

The advisory outlines threats ranging from possible terrorist attacks in major urban centres to the risk of kidnappings and targeted violence in sensitive areas. The focus is especially intense around sites like Abha International Airport and parts of the Eastern Province, where authorities have confronted incoming projectiles and security incidents linked to regional rivalries. Canadian officials urge those who do travel to Saudi Arabia to be hyper attentive to local alerts, comply strictly with instructions from Saudi security services and avoid all non essential movement near sensitive infrastructure or border zones.

Complicating the picture is Saudi Arabia’s aggressive push to transform itself into a global tourism hub, with mega projects, luxury coastal resorts and the prospect of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup all built around attracting millions of foreign visitors. Human rights organizations have simultaneously documented broad travel bans against activists and critics, bans that often extend to family members. For Canadian travelers, the mix of heavy security, geopolitical tension and constrained civil liberties means that even trips focused on religious pilgrimage or high end leisure come with a level of scrutiny and unpredictability that is rare in more liberal destinations.

Germany, the United Kingdom and a Continent on Edge

Germany and the United Kingdom, long viewed by Canadians as among the safest major destinations, are now grouped with France, Italy and Spain in a tier of European countries facing persistent terrorism risks and complex security challenges. Though Canada’s formal wording differs slightly from that of the United States or European partners, the underlying message is similar: visitors must accept that the terrorism threat in Western Europe is real and likely to endure, even as authorities thwart many plots before they can be carried out.

In both Germany and the UK, recent advisories reference a continued risk of attacks on public places, including transportation hubs, shopping districts, nightlife quarters, religious sites and major events. Law enforcement agencies emphasize that attackers may act with little or no warning, inspired either by extremist propaganda or domestic grievances. For tourists, the practical implication is not to avoid these countries entirely, but to navigate them with a different mindset: expect bag checks at attractions, tolerate armed patrols and factor possible security alerts or evacuations into daily plans.

Alongside terrorism, Canadian officials underscore a significant volume of petty crime and sophisticated scams in these destinations, especially in large urban centers such as Berlin, Munich, London and Manchester. Pickpockets, distraction thieves and fraudsters using contactless payment devices or fake rental listings regularly target foreign visitors who are unfamiliar with local warning signs. The combination of a heightened terrorism environment and pervasive low level criminality forces travelers to guard both personal safety and financial security more carefully than in the past.

Escalating Petty Crime and Organized Theft Rings Targeting Tourists

Across all of the countries singled out by Canada’s recent advisories, one theme recurs: tourists have become prime targets for organized theft and scams. Canadian guidance for France, Italy, Spain and Sweden all read like variations on the same script, describing groups of thieves who work in teams, swarm crowded areas and use rehearsed distraction tactics to separate travelers from passports, phones, wallets and high value electronics. Busy rail lines, metro systems, airport concourses and outdoor cafés are singled out repeatedly as hotspots.

Officials warn that criminals often involve minors to lower suspicion and complicate law enforcement responses. Common schemes include staged arguments or sudden commotions, people bumping into travelers with coffee or food spills, bogus petitions presented for signature, and unsolicited offers to help with ticket machines, luggage or directions. As some gangs have grown more brazen, reports of snatch and grab robberies, sometimes accompanied by shoves or threats, have prompted Canadian authorities to shift from general cautions about “petty crime” toward a stronger acknowledgment that incidents can quickly turn intimidating or violent.

Residential burglaries and break ins targeting vacation rentals have also become a recurring concern in countries such as France and Italy, particularly in coastal regions and major cities. Travelers who post real time location updates on social media or leave windows and doors unsecured are at particular risk. The Canadian advisories encourage visitors to avoid displaying signs of wealth, minimize the use of smartphones on public transport and never leave bags unattended, even for moments. Tourists are further urged to keep passports and critical documents in hotel safes or money belts rather than in backpacks or handbags that can be easily grabbed.

Political Protests, Civil Unrest and a Fractured Security Landscape

Beyond conventional concerns over crime and terrorism, Canadian officials are increasingly factoring in political turbulence and public unrest when calibrating travel advice. Sweden has been highlighted for unpredictable demonstrations tied to domestic debates and international tensions, with authorities warning that otherwise peaceful protests can escalate quickly, leading to clashes with police or disruptive roadblocks in central districts. Visitors are advised to avoid all demonstrations and follow local news closely, especially in Stockholm and other major urban centers.

Elsewhere in Europe and the Middle East, Canada’s advisories point to an intricate web of labor strikes, regional conflicts and politically charged anniversaries that can snarl transportation networks or spark sudden security crackdowns. In Italy, nationwide transport strikes and localized protests are a perennial feature of public life, occasionally leaving tourists stranded at stations or facing last minute flight cancellations. In Saudi Arabia and neighboring states, regional dynamics, proxy conflicts and internal dissent all contribute to the possibility of rapidly shifting security conditions, particularly in sensitive border zones or areas near critical energy infrastructure.

The cumulative impact of these developments is a continent and a wider region where the boundaries between ordinary civic activity and potential security risk have blurred. For Canadian travelers, the message from Ottawa is to treat demonstrations, marches and rallies not as tourist curiosities but as events to be avoided entirely, since a seemingly calm gathering can become confrontational or chaotic without warning. Embassies and consulates emphasize the importance of registering travel plans and maintaining regular contact so that alerts can be sent quickly if situations deteriorate in host cities.

How Canadian Travelers Are Expected to Adapt

Canada’s tightened advisories do not amount to blanket bans on travel to France, Sweden, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Germany or the UK, but they do mark a clear expectation that citizens take greater responsibility for their own safety abroad. Officials are urging travelers to conduct detailed pre trip research, purchase comprehensive travel insurance and build contingency plans for disruptions ranging from localized terror alerts to large scale transport strikes or airport shutdowns. The tone reflects recognition that the old model of carefree, set and forget European vacations no longer aligns with on the ground realities.

Canadian authorities also encourage travelers to think more like risk managers when choosing accommodation, transportation and daily itineraries. That includes staying in well secured hotels or reputable rental properties, using licensed taxis and established ride hailing services rather than informal offers, and avoiding isolated areas at night. Tourists are advised to limit cash, separate cards and important documents, and maintain offline copies of passports and insurance documents in case of theft. For destinations with terrorism concerns, knowing the location of emergency exits, identifying secure meeting points and remaining alert in crowded venues have become part of standard safety guidance.

For the global tourism industry, Canada’s evolving advisories provide another data point in a broader shift toward more sober assessments of risk in even the most iconic holiday markets. While visitor numbers to France, Italy, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Germany and the UK remain robust, the message from Ottawa is that the security calculus has changed. Travelers can still enjoy world class culture, cuisine, landscapes and events, but only if they are prepared to navigate a landscape shaped by rising risks, political turbulence and a spectrum of criminal activity that increasingly sees tourists as lucrative, and sometimes easy, targets.