Berlin - Holidaymakers travelling to Europe's Adriatic coast have been advised to be especially careful with their cigarettes and other open flames because of the high risk of forest fires. Open fires have even been banned in Croatia and Slovenia.
Although Croatia's coastal region is no longer affected, travellers to other parts of the country should be wary of landmines. The east of Croatia, western parts of Slovenia and bordering regions with Bosnia were the scenes of heavy fighting in the 1990s.
Travellers are advised never to leave the road when journeying through those areas. Minefields are marked with plastic barrier tape or by warning signs.
---- Rabies on Bali -avoid contact with stray domesticated animals =
Berlin - Travellers planning a trip to Bali have been advised to avoid contact with stray dogs and other pets during their stay due to an increase in cases of rabies on the island.
In the last few years, Bali was considered free of the disease, but rabies has re-emerged and caused fatalities, according to Germany's Centre for Travel Medicine.
Since the turn of the year, nine people have died on Bali as a result of contracting rabies. On the neighbouring island of Flores three people were killed by rabies in 2008.
The rabies virus is spread when saliva from an infected animal enters a wound on the human body's skin. The centre has warned against petting dogs and cats that appear especially affectionate.
It is possible to be immunised against rabies by receiving three injections spread over a period of three or four weeks.
The vaccine has been in short supply in some European countries recently and tourists are advised to place an order with their doctor well in advance of departure.
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Water record attempt in Lake Constance =
Munich - Holidaymakers travelling to Lake Constance in southern Germany can take part in a world record attempt on May 17. At 4 pm, around 1,000 people will wade through the water at the western beach in the town of Ueberlingen, said the local tourist association.
The attempt is being made to mark the 188th birthday of Father Sebastian Kneipp, who founded the Naturopathic movement and helped make hydrotherapy popular, and in a bid to break the record set in November 2008 on the Baltic Sea island of Usedom.
According to Thomas Goetz from Ueberlingen's tourist office about 1,500 people entered the water on that day, but in two separate locations.
Internet: www.ueberlingen.de
