Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/tvlmactxt/EL_SALVA.TVL

Text File | 1994-12-07 | 6KB | 105 lines

El Salvador - Consular Information Sheet
September 2, 1994

Country Description:  El Salvador has a developing economy.  Its tourism
facilities are not fully developed.  Credit cards are widely accepted.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and visa are required for entry to El
Salvador.  Travelers may be asked to present evidence of employment and
finances at the time of visa application.  There are no airport visas or
tourist cards available for last-minute entry.  For additional information,
travelers may contact the Embassy of El Salvador at 1010 16th Street NW,
Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20036, tel [phone], or the nearest
consulate in Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans, Miami, New
York, or Chicago.

Crime and Security Information:  Violent as well as petty crimes are
prevalent throughout El Salvador.  U.S. citizens often are victims.
Visitors should avoid carrying valuables in public places.  Armed assaults
and carjackings take place both in San Salvador, the capital, and in the
interior of the country, but are especially frequent on roads outside the
capital where police patrols are infrequent.  Criminals have been known to
follow travelers from the international airports to private residences where
they carry out assaults and robberies.  Criminals often become violent
quickly, especially when victims fail to cooperate immediately in
surrendering valuables.  Frequently, victims who argue with assailants or
refuse to give up their valuables are shot.

The Peace Accords signed in 1992 between the government of El Salvador and
the FMLN have brought a halt to fighting in El Salvador.  Areas formerly
considered conflicted zones or zones of concentration for demobilizing
guerrillas are now open for travel.  The U.S. Embassy warns its personnel to
drive with their doors locked and windows raised, to avoid travel after
dark, and to avoid travel on unpaved roads at all times because of random
banditry, carjackings, criminal assaults and lack of police and road service
facilities.  Most fatal accidents or robberies and assaults occur during the
evening or early morning hours.  Travelers with conspicuous amounts of
luggage, late-model cars and foreign license plates are particularly
vulnerable even in the capital.  Many Salvadorans are armed and shootouts
are not infrequent.  Travelers, however, may not carry guns, even for their
own protection or for use on the road from the United States, without first
procuring from Salvadoran officials a gun license.  Failure to do so will
result in detention and confiscation of the traveler's firearm even if it is
licensed in the U.S.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately
to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.  Useful
information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while
traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe
Trip Abroad."  This publication and others such as "Tips for Travelers to
Central and South America" are available from the Superintendent of
Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402.

Medical Information:  Medical care is limited.  Doctors and hospitals often
expect immediate cash payment for health services.  U.S. medical insurance
is not always valid outside the United States.  In some cases, medical
insurance with specific overseas coverage may prove to be useful.  Most
hospitals accept credit cards for hospital charges, but not for doctors
fees.  Tap water is generally not considered safe to drink in El Salvador.
There have also been numerous incidents of cholera in recent months.  The
U.S. Embassy advises its personnel to avoid shellfish and other food sold by
streetside vendors or in establishments where hygiene may be dubious.  For
additional health information, travelers may contact the Centers for Disease
Control's international travelers hotline at [phone].

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in
which they are traveling.  Penalties in El Salvador for possession, use or
trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect
lengthy jail sentences and fines.

Other Information:  The Salvadoran constitution prohibits foreigners from
participating in domestic political activities, including public
demonstrations.  The government of El Salvador considers such involvement to
be a violation of the participant's tourist visa status.

Mine removal efforts are underway, but land mines in back country regions
have caused numerous unintended casualties and pose a threat to off-the-road
tourists, backpackers and campers.

Civil Aviation Oversight:  In April 1993, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration assessed El Salvador's civil aviation authority as not in
compliance with international aviation safety oversight standards for El
Salvador's carriers operating to and from the U.S.  While consultations to
correct the deficiencies are ongoing, air carriers licensed by El Salvador
are permitted to conduct limited operations to the U.S. subject to
heightened FAA surveillance.  The FAA is not providing heightened
surveillance for operations to destinations other than the U.S.  For further
information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-
322-7873.

Registration:  Americans who register with the Consular Section of the U.S.
Embassy in San Salvador may obtain updated information on travel and
security within El Salvador.

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador is located at Final
Boulevard Santa Elena, Urbanization Santa Elena, Antigua Cuscatlan, San
Salvador, El Salvador; telephone [phone].

No. 94-202

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated January 19, 1994, to add
information on aviation oversight.