Genvisec advises that all business and leisure travel should continue to Vanuatu

 

Crime

 

Crime rates are low, but increasing. Burglaries are often accompanied by violence. Make sure you lock doors and windows at night. Street crime is also increasing and y avoid making yourself an easy target, especially at night. There have been a number of attacks on tourists at nightclubs and bars in Port Vila. Check with the Vanuatu Tourist Office or your hotel on places where extra caution is required.

 

There have been several serious attacks on foreigners, including lone women, in isolated locations. Avoid visiting remote tourist sites or beaches by yourself. Where possible, travel as part of a larger group. 

 

In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Pam there are reports of isolated looting.

 

Road travel

 

You can drive in Vanuatu on your EU driving licence. General driving standards are below those of the EU.  Many vehicles, including public transport, are in a poor state of repair and may not be insured. Many roads are not properly surfaced, so extra care should be taken when driving on them, particularly in heavy rain or after a prolonged dry period.

 

Air travel

 

Inter-island travel by the domestic airline (Air Vanuatu) is very expensive and subject to delays. Vanuatu’s outer island routes are serviced by small aircrafts, and airports and airstrips have quite basic facilities. 

 

Sea travel

 

Boat services between the islands are infrequent and can be unreliable. Inter-island boats should  have a current sea-worthiness certificate, but many don’t.

 

Swimming

 

Seek local advice from the Provincial Council Office and elsewhere before swimming in the waters off Vanuatu, particularly around the islands of Malekula and Espiritu Santo. Sharks are known to be present in these waters and deaths have occurred.

 

Political situation

 

Party politics in Vanuatu is in a continuous state of flux with frequent splits and coalitions. Although slowly diminishing, the Anglo/French divide continues to be important in politics, with parties generally being either predominantly anglophone or francophone.

 

The President serves a five year term. The current State President, Baldwin Londale was elected in September 2014.

 

Mobile phone services

 

There is a GSM mobile phone service in Vanuatu and you should contact your service provider to establish whether your phone will work in Vanuatu. Alternatively, SIM cards may be purchased from the local telephone company (TVL).

 

Local laws and customs

You should respect local customs, which are strictly observed, and religious sensitivities.  

 

Do not beachwear when away from beaches and hotels. 

 

Homosexuality is legal in Vanuatu but open displays of affection between same-sex partners will attract adverse attention and may offend some. 

 

Drinking kava is an ancient tradition in Vanuatu. Kava is widely available at traditional ceremonies, at nakamals (kava bars) and at some hotels. See our  advice on kava consumption below. It is illegal for supermarkets to sell alcohol between noon on a Saturday and 7am on a Monday. However, clubs bars and hotels may serve alcohol during these times.

 

Drug offences are punishable by fines, imprisonment or both. While there are no mandatory sentences for drug offences in Vanuatu, it is rare for a convicted person not to be fined or receive a jail sentence, even for ‘soft’ drug offences.

 

Most ni-Vanuatu will allow you to take their photograph but you should always seek their permission first.

 

Land ownership in Vanuatu is an important and often sensitive issue. If you are travelling off the beaten track, be aware that you may be trespassing and required to pay a “visiting fee” to  the landowner.

 

Kava

Kava is a drug made from the ground roots of the plant Piper methysticum, a member of the pepper family that also includes black pepper. Kava is consumed as a drink or supplement. The crushed, ground or powdered root is added to water and drunk like tea. 

 

In small doses, its effects include muscle relaxation, sleepiness and feelings of wellbeing. However, long-term use of kava can lead to a range of health problems, including malnutrition, weight loss and apathy. 

 

Kava is drunk at various social and ceremonial occasions throughout most of the Pacific Islands and used in some countries as a medicinal herb. In the early 1980s, kava was brought to Eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory as a substitute for alcohol.

 

Laws restrict kava imports

 

In 2007, new restrictions on importing kava into Europe were introduced. These include:

The importation of kava is only permitted for medical or scientific purposes.

 

How kava works

 

The chemical ingredients of kava include kava lactones, which are thought to be pharmacologically active. These lactones are absorbed through the stomach wall into the bloodstream and reach the brain relatively quickly. 

 

Kava is a nervous system depressant. Even though there is no alcohol in kava, it can produce similar symptoms to drunkenness, including staggering and an inability to talk properly.

 

Effects of kava

 

Variations in growing conditions (such as soil type and the amount of sunlight and water available) and different varieties of plant mean that the strength of kava lactones can vary widely. The strength of the dose also depends on how the drink is prepared and how much powdered kava is added to the water. 

 

Common effects include:

small doses – relaxed muscles, sleepiness, feelings of wellbeing, mild loss of feeling in the throat and mouth, appetite loss

larger doses – dilated pupils, reddened eyes, nausea, stupor, induced sleep, reduced muscle control (ataxia).

Kava is dangerous for some people

 

It is dangerous to take kava in combination with alcohol or other psychoactive drugs. There is little information on how kava interacts with other medicines, so avoid kava if you are taking any prescription drugs. 

 

Kava is a central nervous system depressant and should not be taken by certain people, including:

pregnant women

breastfeeding mothers

people who are driving or operating machinery

anyone already taking therapeutic medicines

children

people with pre-existing heart, lung or liver problems.

Damage from long-term use of kava

 

In the long term, kava use can cause a wide range of problems including:

breathing difficulties

visual changes, including sensitivity to light (photophobia)

alterations to blood cells, including white and red blood cells and platelets

liver damage

reduced immunity to infection

kidney damage

a scaly, dry, flaky rash or ‘kava dermatitis’ – one of the most commonly reported side effects of heavy kava use, as well as other skin conditions such as yellow or white ulcer-like skin lesions (commonly called ‘crocodile skin’ or ‘kani kani’)

appetite loss, leading to malnutrition and weight loss

loss of drive and motivation

worsened symptoms of pre-existing mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

Kava withdrawal risk low

 

There is no evidence to suggest that people who regularly drink large doses of kava become dependent, so there doesn’t seem to be a risk of withdrawal if a person suddenly stops taking kava. However, medical supervision is recommended.

 

Medicinal uses of kava

 

Products containing kava have been used in the past for medicinal purposes, including as an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) or sedative. 

 

In 2003, products containing kava were banned in most European countries because of concerns about its possible toxic effects on the liver. In Australia, all products containing kava were temporarily withdrawn, following the death of one person from liver failure. 

 

After a review by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in 2003, kava is available in restricted doses in Australia as supplements and teabags. 

 

Seek medical advice for kava symptoms

 

Consumers should immediately seek medical advice if they experience any symptoms while taking preparations containing kava, which include:

appetite loss

extreme tiredness

raised body temperature

nausea and vomiting

abdominal pains

brown-coloured urine

unusual bruises or bleeding

yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice).

 

Money

There are three “High Street” banks in Vanuatu – The National Bank of Vanuatu, ANZ and Westpac. Both ANZ and Westpac offer ATM facilities covering most international bankcards. The use of credit cards is commonplace in Port Vila and Luganville but less so in the rest of Vanuatu, particularly away from tourist resorts.

 

Health

In the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Pam there has been a rise in cases of diarrhoea, sickness and water borne diseases. Rates of infectious disease are likely to rise due to people living in close proximity in evacuation centres.

 

Medical facilities in Vanuatu are basic but adequate for routine treatment. More serious cases will require evacuation to Australia or New Zealand. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

 

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 112 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

 

Natural disasters

Vanuatu sits along a volatile seismic strip called the ‘Ring of Fire’ in the Pacific. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis are possible.

 

Earthquakes

 

Vanuatu is prone to significant year round seismic and volcanic activity, with over 2,000 seismic events reported each year. Most events are small scale, although larger tremors and quakes of over 5 on the Richter scale do occur on a regular basis. 

 

Volcanoes

 

Take care when visiting active volcanoes. The Vanuatu government’s Mines and Geology Department issues notices to the Vanuatu Tourism Office and provincial councils using an activity alert scale with five levels from 0-4. Levels 3 and 4 indicate more dangerous activity. Contact the Vanuatu Toursim Office before travelling to the areas where volcanic activity may occure. Information on volcanic activity can also be round at the Vanuatu Geohazards Observatory.

 

The alert level for the Mount Yasur volcano on the island of Tanna has been lowered to Level 2. Projectiles, ash and gas are reaching the summit area, the tourist walk and the parking area. Approaching the volcano summit could be dangerous.

 

Tropical cyclones

 

The tropical cyclone season in Vanuatu normally runs from November to April. Throughout this period there is a high risk of strong winds and heavy rains with associated flooding, landslides and road closures.

 

Monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation, the Vanuatu Meteorological Service, local newspapers and local radio. 

 

See our tropical cyclones page for advice about what to do if you are caught up in a storm.

 

Visas

 

EU passport holders visiting Vanuatu do not require a visa and are normally given permission to enter and remain in the country for up to 30 days on arrival, provided that they are in possession of an onward or return ticket. 

 

Passport validity

 

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry from Vanuatu.

 

Emergency Travel Document

 

Emergency Travel Documents are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Vanuatu.