From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL INFORMATION -- Kuwait
Date: 12 Jan 1993 15:35:08 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Kuwait
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Kuwait - Consular Information Sheet
 January 8, 1993

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait is located on Gulf 
Road near the Kuwait International Hotel in Kuwait City, P.O. Box 77 
Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait, phone (965) 242-4151 through 9.  The 
workweek in Kuwait is Sunday through Thursday.

Country Description:  Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy with a 
modern economy.  Day-to-day life has returned to normal after the 
1990 Iraqi occupation, although some services may not be up to 
pre-invasion standards.  Facilities for travelers are widely 
available.

Entry Requirements:  Passports and visas are required for U.S. 
citizens traveling to Kuwait, and airport visas are not available.  
For more information concerning entry requirements, travelers can 
contact the Embassy of Kuwait at 2940 Tilden St., N.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 966-0702, or the Kuwaiti Consulate in 
New York City, telephone (212) 973-4318.

Areas of Instability:  The demilitarized zone at the Kuwait/Iraq 
border is not well marked, and Kuwait guard posts, where they exist, 
may not warn travelers that they are approaching the Iraq border.  
Foreigners, including American citizens working near the border, 
have been detained incommunicado by Iraqi forces for lengthy periods 
under harsh conditions.  Some foreigners have been convicted in Iraq 
of illegally crossing the Iraq border and sentenced to jail terms of 
seven or ten years.  Unexploded bombs, mines, booby traps, and other 
items remain in open areas and beaches throughout Kuwait.  U.S. 
Embassy personnel have been forbidden to travel off paved surfaces 
outside Kuwait city.  There have also been recent, sporadic bombings 
in the residential and commercial areas of Kuwait City.

Medical Facilities:  The health care delivery system continues to 
rebuild after the Iraqi occupation, but still remains marginal.  
There are many medical facilities, both government and private, 
available in Kuwait.  Medical care at government-run clinics and 
hospitals is provided free of charge to residents of Kuwait, while 
private physicians and hospitals charge a fee for services.  
Non-residents have found that private doctors, hospitals and clinics 
expect immediate cash payment for their services.  U.S. medical 
insurance is not always valid outside the United States.  
Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has 
proved useful.  Specific health questions can be addressed to the 
Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline, 
telephone (404) 332-4559.

Crime Information:  The crime rate in Kuwait is low, although it 
has increased since the end of the 1990 Gulf War.  Many weapons left 
over from the war remain in the hands of the populace, and shooting 
incidents have occurred.  Both physical and verbal harassment of 
women has also increased.  The Department of State Pamphlet "A Safe 
Trip Abroad" provides information on safeguarding valuables and 
protecting personal security.  It is available from the 
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 
Washington, D.C. 20402.

Currency Regulations:  Travelers checks and credit cards are widely 
acceptable.  Kuwaiti currency is readily convertible to U.S. dollars.

Drug and Other Penalties:  Penalties for possession, use, or 
dealing in illegal drugs, alcohol, or pornography are severe, and 
convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines.  Religious 
proselytizing is not permitted.

Terrorist Activities:  Violent incidents occur sporadically and are 
usually directed against Kuwaiti targets.  The U.S. Embassy can 
supply more detailed information to Americans in Kuwait on reducing 
the risk of becoming a target of a terrorist attack.

Tips For Travelers:  The Department of State publication "Tips for 
Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa" contains useful 
general information on travel in the area.  It is available from the 
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 
Washington, D.C. 20402.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who register at the Consular Section 
of the U.S. Embassy may be enrolled in the Embassy's emergency alert 
network, and can obtain updated information on travel and security 
in Kuwait.

 No. 93-017