Vanuatu is a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometers. The islands offer scuba diving at coral reefs, underwater caverns, and wrecks such as the WWII-era troopship SS President Coolidge.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to Vanuatu are required to have a valid passport. Entry requirements vary depending on visitors nationality. Most visitors enjoy visa-free entry ranging from 30 to 90 days of stay which also depends on visitors nationality. Others must first obtain a visa. Although an IDP is not required to drive in Vanuatu and visitors may use their national driving permit, IDP is recommended as it will aid visitors in renting cars or solving issues with local traffic authorities.

Traveling hazards

In general, traffic in Vanuatu moves on the right side of the road. Travel can be hazardous. Roads are generally narrow and in poor repair. Only the capital city of Port Vila and the town of Luganville have consistently paved roads, which have a maximum speed limit of 30 miles per hour / 50 kilometers per hour. To avoid trespassing, seek permission from local landowners before accessing non-public areas, including beaches. Some landowners may charge a fee for access.

Environmental hazards

Just like most small islands of the Pacific, Vanuatu has barely any mammal life. With the exception of humans, the only land mammals of Vanuatu are bats meaning there are no dangerous animals on land. There are however three or possibly four adult saltwater crocodiles living in Vanuatu’s mangroves and no current breeding population. It is said the crocodiles reached the northern part of the islands after cyclones, given the island chain’s proximity to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea where crocodiles are very common. There are numerous shark attack reports off the coast of Vanuatu. countries in the vicinity, like Australia, belong to the countries with most reported shark attacks, signaling danger for divers and swimmers who are most vulnerable.
Vanuatu is the most at risk from natural hazards nation in the world. Name any natural hazard and Vanuatu most probably experiences it. These islands inhabited by over 250 thousand people are constantly struck by earthquakes, floods, minor tsunami waves, storms, and seasonal tropical cyclones.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases in Vanuatu nor are there are vaccination requirements. There are however several recommended vaccines. These vaccines are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B and typhoid vaccines. There is a risk of contracting malaria to which there is, unfortunately, no approved vaccine. There is however medicine on prescription against malaria which should be available to anyone after consulting their local general practitioner. Visitors can also use mosquito repellents and mosquito nets in order to prevent bites through which the disease might be transmitted. While most urban residents now have access to improved drinking water, this is not the case in rural areas where fewer than 80 percent of inhabitants have clean drinking water. However, this figure is a serious improvement from 1990 when only about half of the rural population had clean water. Despite Vanuatu’s increasing modernity, the country’s local health care resources may vary widely in quality depending on the area. Precautions relating to health care should be made before making a trip. The country has a very limited local private health insurance system, so arrangements should be made before travel. Emergency evacuation to Australia or New Zealand is usually required for any situation requiring serious medical attention in the country; insurance and other arrangements should be planned in advance accordingly.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Crime in Vanuatu is almost non-existent. This situation is quickly changing, however. The increase of tourism on the islands attract many who seek economic gain in petty crime by stealing unattended goods, pickpocketing or bag snatching. Tourists are particular targets of such crimes as they are perceived as wealthy. Violent crime is very rare however it does exist. Violent crime however barely concerns tourists. There is no risk of terrorism in Vanuatu. Possession of narcotics is illegal.

Summary

Although Vanuatu is rather safe in terms of crime, natural hazards remain tourists and locals biggest concern as such incidents can happen anytime with active volcanoes as well as non-stop earthquakes. Those unfazed by natural hazards can enjoy the natural beauty of the archipelago. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.airvanuatu.com/home/plan-book/entry-requirements
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/vanuatu