Iceland Country Travel Advice Report
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Intelligence and Analysis Services
Country Travel Advice Report
Iceland
Overall Risk Rating: Negligible - Low | 1.50
Drum Cussac Group Limited Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:01 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services
Contents
Country Risk Rating Breakdown ................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Country Overview ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Security
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Political
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Infrastructural
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Environmental
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Medical
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Fact Box ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Travel Risk Advice ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Threat Scale Reference ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Drum Cussac Group Limited 2 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:01 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services
Country Risk Rating Breakdown
Country Overall Risk Rating Negligible - Low | 1.50
Security Environmental Infrastructural Political Medical
Negligible - Low | 1.50 Low | 2.25 Low | 2.25 Negligible - Low | 1.50 Low | 2.25
Drum Cussac Group Limited 3 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:01 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services Country Overview Negligible - Low | 1.50 Iceland is a developed nation in the North Atlantic Ocean south of the Arctic Circle. The government's stability does not face any internal or external threats to its existence. The greatest threat to foreign visitors in Iceland is the extreme environment and road conditions, particularly during the winter when traffic accidents are a serious concern. Iceland's infrastructure and medical facilities are well developed, but inclement weather, rugged terrain and ice fields make much of the country inaccessible by wheeled vehicle for much of the year. Iceland is a hotbed of volcanic and geothermal activity. Volcanic eruptions are not uncommon due its position on the dividing line between the Eurasian and North American continental plates. The country's three major volcanoes - Hekla, Katla and Grimsvotn - lie along this boundary. In total there are 35 active volcanoes on and around the island. Several significant eruptions have occurred in the recent past. Security Negligible - Low | 1.50 Overview Iceland does not face any specific security risk and this will almost certainly not change in the foreseeable future. Political Negligible - Low | 1.50 Overview Iceland is a politically and socially stable country with no threats of external or internal war. Infrastructural Low | 2.25 Overview There is no particular risk associated with air travel to Iceland, and the country's airlines and airports are considered safe. Severe conditions can impede overland travel on the primarily gravel road network. Mountain routes are closed from October to March. Environmental Low | 2.25 Overview The natural setting can be hazardous for foreign travelers unfamiliar with Iceland's extreme terrain. Travel near mud pots, hot springs, lava fields, glaciers and geysers can be hazardous, especially in inclement weather. Iceland sits on active volcano beds, and eruptions generate a realistic risk to disrupt life on the island and shutdown Icelandic airspace. Medical Low | 2.25 Overview There are no specific health risks associated with travel to Iceland, except those posed by the extreme cold experienced in much of the country. Good quality medical facilities and medicines are available although may be difficult to access from remote locations. Drum Cussac Group Limited 4 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:01 (UTC)
Intelligence and Analysis Services
Fact Box
Government
Parliamentary Republic
Type
Population 330,823 (2015)
Currency Icelandic Krona
Languages Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Time Zone UTC
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 74%, Other, (including Roman Catholic
Religions Reykjavik Free Church, Hafnarfjorour Free Church, The Independent Congregation, none or
unspecified) 26%
Traffic Drives on the right
Plug Types Type C, Type F
Ethnicities Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%
Drinking
Safe to Drink
Water
2020 Significant Dates:
January 1 - New Year’s Day April 9 - Maundy Thursday April 10 - Good Friday April 12 -
Additional
Easter Sunday April 13 - Easter Monday April 23 - First Day of Summer (Sumardagurinn
Information
fyrsti) May 1 - May Day May 21 - Ascension Day May 31 - Whit Sunday (Pentecost) June 1 -
Whit Monday June 17 - National Day (Independence Day) August 3 - Commence Day
(Fridagur verslunarmanna) December 24 - 26 - Christmas December 31 - New Year’s Eve
International
Country +354
Code
Drum Cussac Group Limited 5 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:01 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services
Travel Risk Advice
Vaccinations and Key Health Risks
You should visit a health care professional at least four to six weeks prior to the trip. Travellers should ensure that they have routine vaccination
courses and boosters. Routine vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio, and
annual flu vaccine.
Dependent on work, reason for travel, or underlying health conditions, some travellers visiting may require vaccines from:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Rabies
Pre-departure
Travellers should provide friends and family a copy of travel itinerary, and make a copy of important travel and identification documents.
Travellers should have adequate travel insurance in place to enable rapid medical treatment or emergency extraction from country, and
should review contingency operations, business continuity and crisis management plans.
On Arrival
There are no significant measures to undertake on arrival in country.
In Transit
Public transport is generally safe, and self-driving may be conducted, although during the winter months travellers are not advised to travel
out of urban areas without a full tank of gas, extensive safety equipment and food and water. An experienced local guide is highly
recommended and vehicles should hold a disaster supplies kit. Vehicles should also be serviced with particular attention to antifreeze levels,
battery and ignition systems.
Consult with local authorities before driving long-distances or on rural routes during the winter.
At Your Hotel
There are no significant measures to undertake at your hotel, although travellers should follow national news advisories concerning weather-
related delays and winter storm alerts.
In the Street
Petty crime poses the most significant threat to travellers. Travellers should avoid overt displays of wealth, which is especially important in
more crowded areas.
Travellers should use only small denominations of currency, and keep large amounts of cash and cards in a separate place on your person.
Reduce the contents of your wallet or purse contents, particularly cards which may denote affiliations, memberships and accounts.
Travellers should ensure that their mobile phone is carried with sufficient battery life and programmed with appropriate emergency numbers.
Travellers should also carry an ID card or passport and emergency medical information.
Travellers should be aware of their location and surroundings. Avoid high-crime areas and of walking through dimly lit streets after dark.
Travellers should know routes and carry a map if necessary, but keep it concealed.
In crowded situations, travellers should be aware of jostling as this may be a ploy for pick-pockets. Travellers should also be aware of people
loitering, and also that attackers may first pass their victim to attack from behind.
Travellers should ignore verbal ‘bait’ from passers-by, do not get into an argument and avoid eye contact with strangers.
Drum Cussac Group Limited 6 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:01 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services COVID-19 Information Total Cases (ECDC) (Updated on Monday): 7,304 Weekly percentage increase in cases:8.72% Travel Restrictions: Internal Restrictions Authorities in Iceland have lifted all domestic COVID-19-related restrictions as of June 26. Measures, such as social gathering limits, wearing of facemasks, and business operating protocols, are no longer in effect nationwide. Officials continue to encourage regular cleaning and disinfecting of commonly touched surfaces as a precaution. International Travel Restrictions Iceland will reintroduce COVID-19 testing requirements for international entry from July 27 in response to an increase in imported cases. International travelers will be required to produce the results of a PCR test or a rapid antigen test taken no more than 72 hours before departure. The requirement will apply to vaccinated travelers and those who have recovered from COVID-19. Entry restrictions for unvaccinated travelers remain unchanged. Unvaccinated travelers must produce a negative PCR test result no older than 72 hours upon departure, quarantine for five days upon arrival, submit to a test upon arrival, and another test at the end of the five-day quarantine period. Children born in 2005 or later are exempt from all entry restrictions. Up until July 27, current international entry restrictions will continue to apply. Specifically, travelers with a certificate confirming they are vaccinated against or recovered from COVID-19 are not currently tested for COVID-19 on arrival. The vaccine must be approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the World Health Organization (WHO), and the last dose must have been administered no less than 14 days ago. Entry to Iceland is currently permitted for all individuals who can present one of these certificates on arrival; such travelers are also exempt from quarantine requirements. Under most circumstances, travelers from EU and Schengen Area states and those from Albania, Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Macao, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the US can enter Iceland. Most travelers from other locations will remain prohibited from entering with some exceptions, including freight and transport workers, immediate family members of Icelandic residents, diplomats, students, individuals conducting necessary work, and persons traveling for urgent family reasons. All arrivals must complete a preregistration form before departing for Iceland. Additional Information: https://www.covid.is/english Drum Cussac Group Limited 7 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:01 (UTC)
Intelligence and Analysis Services
Threat Scale Reference
Threat Rating Implication
The operating environment is benign and there are only isolated threats to business
1 - Negligible
and/or travel.
The operating environment is generally permissive, although there are a limited
2 – Low
number of threats to business and/or travel that requires basic mitigations.
The operating environment is challenging and there are serious threats to business
3 – Moderate
and/or travel that requires some mitigations.
The operating environment is hostile and there are significant threats to business,
4 – High
personal safety and/or travel, requiring comprehensive mitigations and planning.
The operating environment is characterised by pervasive direct threats to business,
5 – Extreme
personal safety and/or travel, requiring strict risk management procedures.
Drum Cussac Group Limited 8 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:01 (UTC)Intelligence and Analysis Services
Disclaimer
Drum Cussac Group Ltd makes no representation, warranties or assurance against risk with respect to the contents or use of this document, and
specifically disclaims any express or implied warranties or usefulness for any particular purpose of this publication. Recommendations made are based on
information available at the time of writing. No express or implied warranty is given in respect of any judgment made or to changes, or any unforeseen
escalation of any factors affecting any such judgment.
Copyright
Copyright 2016 Drum Cussac Group Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express prior consent of Drum
Cussac Group Ltd.
Drum Cussac is a global consultancy delivering intelligence-led, technology-enabled risk, security and crisis management solutions to leading
international organisations. Our specialist operations teams are recognised experts in providing a highly responsive and proactive resource in
challenging and demanding situations.
Drum Cussac Group Ltd info@drum-cussac.com
+44 (0) 1202 802 060 drum-cussac.com
+44 (0) 1202 937 707 (24hr) @DrumCussac
LinkedIn.com/company/drum-cussac
Global Presence Europe | North America | Latin America | Africa | Middle East | Asia and Pacific
Drum Cussac Group Limited 9 Last Updated: 4 Aug 2021, 22:01 (UTC)You can also read
