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Security Alert May 17, 2024

Worldwide caution, update may 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

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Places the U.S. Government Warns Not to Travel Right Now

You may want to reconsider traveling to these countries right now.

Do Not Travel to These Countries

Getty Images

Crime, civil unrest and terrorism are common risk factors for countries that end up on the State Department's "Do Not Travel" advisory list.

In 2024, tourism across the globe is “well on track” to return to pre-pandemic levels, according to projections by UN Tourism.

Global conflicts and natural disasters , ranging from a series of coups across Africa to catastrophic earthquakes in the Middle East affected international travel patterns throughout 2023. Still, international tourist arrivals reached 87% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, according to estimates by UN Tourism .

In January 2024 alone, about 4.6 million U.S. citizens left the country for international destinations, 17% higher than the same month in 2019, according to the International Trade Administration . But some destinations warrant more caution than others.

On Oct. 19, 2023, following the outbreak of war between Israel and Gaza and flaring tensions in the region, the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide caution advisory due to “increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.” Prior to this update, the most recent worldwide caution advisory was issued in 2022 after a U.S. strike killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s successor as leader of Al Qaeda, causing “a higher potential for anti-American violence.” The worldwide caution advisory remains in effect.

The U.S. State Department also issues individual travel advisory levels for more than 200 countries globally, continually updating them based on a variety of risk indicators such as health, terrorism and civil unrest. Travel advisory levels range from Level 1, which means exercise normal precautions, to Level 4, which means do not travel there.

About 10% of countries – 19 total – have a Level 4: “Do Not Travel” advisory as of Mar. 4. In Level 4 countries, the U.S. government may have “very limited ability” to step in should travelers’ safety or security be at risk, according to the State Department. Crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and terrorism are common risk factors associated with Level 4 countries.

So far in 2024, the State Department made changes to the existing Level 4 advisories for Myanmar, Iran and Gaza, and moved Niger and Lebanon off of the Level 4 list.

Places With a Level 4 Travel Advisory

These are the primary areas the U.S. government says not to travel to right now, in alphabetical order:

Jump to Place: Afghanistan Belarus Burkina Faso Central African Republic Myanmar (formerly Burma) Gaza Haiti Iran Iraq Libya Mali Mexico North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Ukraine Venezuela Yemen

Afghanistan: The Central Asian country is wrestling with “terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping and crime,” according to the State Department. U.S. citizens are specifically at risk for wrongful detention and kidnapping. In 2022, the government reinstituted public floggings and executions, and women’s rights are disappearing under Taliban control. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul halted operations in August 2021. Since the Taliban took control , many forms of international aid have been halted . Meanwhile, in 2023, some of the year’s deadliest earthquakes killed more than 2,400 in Afghanistan while the country continues to face a years-long extreme drought.

Belarus: Belarus, which shares a western border with Russia and a southern border with Ukraine, has been flagged for “Belarusian authorities’ continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus, the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the potential of civil unrest, the risk of detention, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus.” The U.S. Embassy in Minsk halted operations in February 2022.

Burkina Faso: Terrorism, crime and kidnapping are plaguing this West African nation. Terrorist attacks may target hotels, restaurants and schools with little to no warning, and the East and Sahel regions of the country are under a state of emergency. In late November 2023, hundreds died in clashes between state security forces and rebels near the country’s border with Mali. In June, more than 2 million people in Burkina Faso were displaced due to “violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.”

Central African Republic: While there have not been specific incidents of U.S. citizens targeted with violence or crime, violent crime and sudden closure of roads and borders is common. The advisory states that “Embassy Bangui’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens, crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping” is a factor in its assessment. Recent data from UNICEF suggests the country has the worst drinking water accessibility of all countries in 2022.

Myanmar (Formerly Burma): Armed conflict and civil unrest are the primary reasons to not travel to this Southeast Asian country, which experienced a military coup in early 2021. Limited health care resources, wrongful detentions and “areas with land mines and unexploded ordnance” are also listed as risk factors. After Ukraine and Israel, Myanmar had the highest conflict-related death toll in 2023.

Gaza : Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization as designated by the State Department, controls much of the Gaza Strip, which shares borders with both Israel and Egypt. On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas fighters broke across the border into Israel, killing hundreds of civilians and soldiers in a brazen attack that stunned Israelis. On Oct. 10, Israel hit the Gaza Strip with “the fiercest air strikes in its 75-year conflict” according to Reuters . The conflict has since escalated into war between Israel and Hamas, with regular Israeli airstrikes leading to extensive civilian casualties in Gaza. As of mid-December, nearly 85% of Gaza’s population were displaced from their homes, according to UN estimates . The region continues to face shortages of food , water, electricity and medical supplies , with conditions deemed “far beyond a humanitarian crisis.” The State Department warns of terrorism and armed conflict within Gaza’s borders.

Haiti: In July 2023, the Department of State ordered all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince in response to the increased risk of kidnapping and violent crime in the country , as well as armed conflict between gangs and police. The travel advisory states that cases of kidnapping “often involve ransom negotiations and U.S. citizen victims have been physically harmed during kidnappings.” The travel advisory also states that “U.S. citizens in Haiti should depart Haiti as soon as possible” given “the current security situation and infrastructure challenges.” A series of gang attacks in late September 2023 caused thousands to flee their homes, and many aid groups have been forced to cut or suspend operations amid escalating violence in recent months.

Iran: Terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest are risk factors for all travelers to Iran, while U.S. citizens are specifically at risk for “arbitrary arrest.” U.S.-Iranian nationals such as students, journalists and business travelers have been arrested on charges of espionage and threatening national security. Executions in Iran rose sharply between 2021 and 2022, bringing the country’s total to nearly 580 people over the year, according to a report by Amnesty International released in May 2023.

Iraq: The State Department cites “terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict [and] civil unrest” as cause for the country’s Level 4 distinction. Iraq’s northern borders, and its border with Syria, are especially dangerous. Since the escalation of conflict in neighboring Israel in October, there has been an increase in attacks against Iraqi military bases, which host U.S. troops and other international forces. In October 2023, non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members were ordered to leave the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Libya: Following the end of its dictatorship over a decade ago, Libya has been wrought with internal conflict between armed groups in the East and West. Armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, kidnapping and terrorism are all risk factors. U.S. citizens have been targets of kidnapping for ransom, with terrorists targeting hotels and airports frequented by Westerners. The U.S. Embassy in Tripoli halted operations in 2014. In mid-September 2023, floods, which some say were intensified by climate change , killed thousands in eastern Libya. Clashes between armed factions escalated across the country in the latter half of 2023, including in the capital city of Tripoli and in Benghazi.

Mali: After experiencing military coups in 2020 and 2021, crime, terrorism and kidnapping are all prevalent threats in this West African landlocked nation. In July 2022, non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families were ordered to leave the country due to higher risk of terrorist activity. A U.N. report in August 2023 said that military groups in the country, including both Mali security forces and possibly Russian Wagner mercenaries, were spreading terror through the use of violence against women and human rights abuses. Democratic elections were supposed to occur in February 2024, but Mali’s military junta postponed the plans indefinitely. In December, the U.N. officially ended a decade-long peacekeeping presence in the country, which had been among the agency’s deadliest missions, with hundreds of the mission personnel killed since 2013.

Mexico: Each state in Mexico is assessed separately for travel advisory levels. Six of the 32 states in Mexico are designated as Level 4: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas. Crime and kidnapping are listed as the primary risk factors throughout the country. Nearly 112,000 people were missing across the country as of October, a number the U.N. has called “alarming.”

North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea): U.S. passports are not valid for travel “to, in, or through” this country, home to one of the world's longest-running dynastic dictatorships. The travel advisory states that the Level 4 distinction is due to “the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals.” In July 2023, a U.S. soldier fled across the border into North Korea, where he is believed to be in North Korean custody, the first American detained in the North in nearly five years. He was returned to U.S. custody in September 2023.

Russia: The travel advisory for Russia cites its invasion of Ukraine , harassment of U.S. citizens by Russian government officials and arbitrary law enforcement as a few of the reasons for the Level 4 designation. Chechnya and Mount Elbrus are specifically listed as Level 4 regions. Terrorism, civil unrest, health, kidnapping and wrongful detention are all noted as risks.

Russia Invades Ukraine: A Timeline

Somalia: A severe drought resulting from five failed rainy seasons in a row killed 43,000 people in 2022, and caused a famine amid conflict with Islamist insurgents . Violent crime is common throughout Somalia , pirates frequent its coast off the Horn of Africa, and medical facilities, where they exist, have limited capacity. Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health and kidnapping are all risk factors. In January 2024, some passengers aboard a U.N.-contracted helicopter were taken hostage by al-Shabaab militants after the vehicle crashed in central Somalia.

South Sudan: Crime, kidnapping and armed conflict are the primary risk factors for South Sudan, which separated from Sudan in 2011, making it the world’s newest country . Weapons are readily available, and travelers have been victims of sexual assault and armed robbery.

Sudan: The U.S. evacuated its embassy in Khartoum in April 2023, and the country closed its airspace due to the ongoing conflict in the country, only permitting humanitarian aid and evacuation efforts. Fighting has escalated in the region between two warring generals seeking to gain control after a military coup in 2021 ousted the country’s prime minister. Civil unrest is the primary risk factor for Africa’s third largest country by area. Crime, terrorism, kidnapping and armed conflict are also noted. The International Criminal Court began investigating alleged war crimes and violence against African ethnic groups in the country in 2023. Millions have fled their homes due to conflict, and the U.N. has said its efforts to provide aid have been hindered by a lack of support, safety and resources. As recently as December 2023, the United Nations warned of catastrophic famine , with millions of children at-risk for malnutrition .

Syria: The advisory states that “No part of Syria is safe from violence,” with terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict and risk of unjust detention all potential risk factors. U.S. citizens are often a target for kidnappings and detention. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus halted operations in 2012. Fighting in neighboring Israel has escalated since October, and the conflict has spilled over into Syria, where the U.S. has carried out air strikes following drone and rocket attacks against American troops in Syria and Iraq, triggered by the Israel-Hamas war.

Ukraine: Russian setbacks in their invasion of Ukraine buoyed hopes in Ukraine in 2023. However, Ukraine is a Level 4 country due to Russia’s invasion, with crime and civil unrest also noted as risk factors. The country’s forces shot down two Russian fighter jets on Christmas Eve 2023, in a move Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said “sets the right mood for the entire year ahead.”

Venezuela: Human rights abuses and lack of health care plague this South American nation, which has been in a political crisis since 2014. In 2019, diplomatic personnel were withdrawn from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas. Threats in the country include crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, wrongful detention and poor health infrastructure.

Yemen: Six of the nine risk factors defined by the State Department – terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict and landmines – are all present in Yemen. Despite private companies offering tourist visits to the Yemeni island of Socotra, the U.S. government argues those arranging such visits “are putting tourists in danger.” Civil war and cholera are also both present throughout the country. The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa halted operations in 2015. The country has experienced a relative lull in the civil war fighting, but as peace negotiations have gotten traction, flare ups in the fighting have jeopardized progress. Most recently, the U.S. and U.K. have carried out a series of airstrikes in the country, targeting Iran-backed Houthi sites.

Other Countries to Watch

Since Jan. 1, the State Department has updated travel advisories for 17 different countries as well as for the West Bank and Gaza, adding information about specific regions or risk factors, or simply renewing an existing advisory. Travel advisory levels can change based on several factors in a nation, such as increased civil unrest, policies that affect human rights or higher risks of unlawful detention.

The State Department has given about 25 countries an assessment of Level 3, meaning it recommends people “reconsider travel” to those destinations.

On Oct. 14, one week after the deadly Hamas attack on Israel, Israel and the West Bank were both moved from Level 2 to Level 3, while Gaza remains at Level 4. The region’s travel advisory was updated in November to reflect travel restrictions for certain government employees who have not already left the area, and it was updated again on Jan. 3.

Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in early October, the U.S. State Department raised Lebanon ’s travel advisory level from a Level 3 to a Level 4 level due to “the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges” between Israel and Hezbollah or other militant groups. In December, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut returned to normal staffing and presence, and on Jan. 29, the country was moved back to Level 3. Crime, terrorism, armed conflict, civil unrest, kidnapping and unexploded landmines are listed as the country’s primary risk factors. However, the country’s borders with Syria and with Israel, as well as refugee settlements within Lebanon, are specifically noted as Level 4 regions.

China became a Level 3 country in late 2020, with an update in December 2022 citing “the surge in COVID-19 cases, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, and COVID-19-related restrictions” as the reason for the advisory. In June 2023, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) was moved from the Level 3 to the Level 2 list, but travelers are still advised to be cautious in the area due to “arbitrary enforcement of local laws.” Meanwhile, Macau remains at Level 3.

Following an attempted coup in August 2023, Niger was elevated to Level 4 in August and the Department of State ordered all non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members to leave the U.S. Embassy in Niamey. In early January 2024, the overall risk level for the country was lowered back to Level 3. Despite the new classification, the State Department still asks non-emergency government personnel and eligible family members to depart the country.

In mid-December 2023 there was an explosion at Guinea’s main fuel depot which has since affected access to health care and basic goods and services. The country was subsequently designated a Level 3 nation after having previously been Level 2. Concerns about civil unrest, health, crime and fuel shortages impacting local infrastructure were listed as the primary risk factors contributing to the change.

Several Level 3 countries are among the worst countries for human trafficking, as designated by the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report . Level 3 countries on this list include Papua New Guinea, Guinea Bissau, China and Chad. There are also nine Level 4 countries designated as among the worst for human trafficking: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Syria, South Sudan and Venezuela.

Over 70 countries are currently at Level 2, meaning the State Department recommends travelers “exercise increased caution” when traveling to those destinations.

Botswana became the newest Level 2 country on Feb. 26 after having previously been Level 1, with crime noted as the primary risk factor.

France, which saw nationwide protests throughout 2023, has civil unrest and terrorism noted as risk factors for its Level 2 status, and Sweden’s Level 2 status is associated with risks of terrorism.

The Level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas was updated in January to reflect water safety concerns. The advisory warns that “activities involving commercial recreational watercraft, including water tours, are not consistently regulated” and notes that government personnel are “not permitted to use independently operated jet-ski rentals on New Providence and Paradise Islands.” It also warns visitors to be mindful of sharks, weather and water conditions. The advisory also says that crime is a primary risk factor with gang-on-gang violence contributing to high homicide rates in some areas. Visitors are asked to “be vigilant” and to not physically resist robbery attempts.

Bangladesh 's Level 2 travel advisory was updated in October 2023 to add a note about the country’s general election , which took place Jan. 7, 2024. The advisory states “demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.” The U.S. has since claimed the country’s election was not free nor fair.

In November 2023, several Level 2 travel advisories were updated with new cautionary information. The advisory for Ghana was updated to reflect threats against LGBTQI+ travelers specifically, noting “anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric and violence have increased in recent years.” Meanwhile, the advisory for South Africa was updated in February to note that routes recommended by GPS may be unsafe with higher risk for crime.

Turkmenistan was moved off of the Level 2 list to become the newest addition to the Level 1 list on Jan. 22, meaning normal precautions are recommended but there are no risk factors causing travelers to practice increased caution.

The State Department asks travelers to pay attention to travel advisory levels and alerts , review country information pages for their destinations and read related country security reports before going abroad.

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What to Know About the State Department's New Travel Advisories for Europe

By Rachel Chang

Between pandemic outbreaks and unrest in much of the world, global travel inherently comes with more anxiety than before. On top of that, earlier in October, officials issued an updated U.S. State Department travel advisory for a slew of countries, ranging from Belize and Italy to South Africa and the U.K, putting them at a Level 2 status cautioning visitors to “exercise increased caution.” While the new batch of advisories captured travelers' attention, the reason they were issued is more complex than it might seem. Most of the updated bulletins were dated October 4 or 5, a few days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removed COVID-19 Travel Health Notices from its site, a State Department spokesperson says. That change sparked the new advisories, but also drew attention to the warnings that had existed in each country.  Any time there is an alteration to the listed information, the travel advisory for each country will clearly note the reason for the update at the top. As with countries like Belize , Italy , France , and South Africa , the first line of the advisories read: “Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information”—noting that CDC change was the cause for the new advisory, as COVID-19 had been a major factor in these notices for the greater part of the last couple of years. For many of the nations, that was the sole reason for the update. But the State Department is constantly reviewing the information. Any country with a Travel Advisory at Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”) or Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”) is reassessed at least every 12 months, while any on Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) or Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”) are looked at again every six months, at a minimum.  Moving forward, the State Department’s Travel Advisories will no longer include the CDC’s Travel Health Notices, and the CDC will only issue a notice for a country if a concerning COVID-19 variant is identified that alters recommendations for traveling there.

Large-scale safety warnings

With the health warnings off of these pages, terrorist and civil unrest advisories now sit at the top of many of the countries' pages. The State Department says that if the latest update was related to one of these reasons, it would be clearly labeled up front. Still, the recent update exposed just how many nations are currently at elevated caution levels.

“Level 2 travel warnings are not normal for these countries at this scale,” Jukka Laitamaki of NYU School of Professional Studies ’ Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality says. “Currently, in Europe only Scandinavian countries and Finland have the lowest Level 1 advisory.”

The State Department doesn’t specify what threats are behind the warnings, so it does mean travelers should be aware of the state of affairs in each country. “Pay attention to [the advisories] and use them as an important part of your travel planning,” he says. “Supplement them with local news from the destinations you plan to travel to and consider your own level of risk tolerance.” It’s possible recent one-off incidents like the Monet painting being defaced in Germany or the upcoming enthusiasm around the World Cup in November could be causes, Rewaken Adventure travel consultant Lori Avirett-Mackenzie says. “So State Department increasing the levels makes sense in a broad and general way,” she says.

Knowing how to use that information for travel planning can be difficult to parse. “There are no universal answers as the decision to travel and where to go when is highly personal,” Sandra Weinacht of Inside Europe . “But from my perspective and experience, I say yes, come to Europe.”  Of course that doesn’t mean completely letting your guard down—it may just be digging deeper into the specifics of where you’re going. Often the travel advisories will caution about certain areas. For instance, while Peru is on a Level 3 warning , there are certain border regions on Level 4. 

“We advise clients to take these alerts seriously, but we also recommend that, together, we dig into the alert and in more detail before changing or cancelling their travel plans to determine if or how the alert affects their specific trip,” Jenny Mikkelson at Travel Beyond says. She reminds that the advisories are issued for entire nations and for a broad range of traveler types, so specifics are important. “The particular destinations a traveler may be visiting may not be anywhere near the points of concern,” she adds.  Even so, Level 4 warnings stating not travel to the country should be heeded, Laitamaki says. As of press time, that list includes Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Central African Republic, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tonga, Venezuela, Yemen, and Ukraine.

No matter what the advisory level is, it’s also just important to stay smart while on the road. Officials recommend signing up for the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) program with details of your trip in order to receive the latest safety and security alerts from the U.S. government.

While the advisories can be daunting, it shouldn’t prevent travelers from leaving home. “I believe the best option is to be well-educated and prepared,” Avirett-Mackenzie says. “International travel is key to changing and enlarging our perspectives, helping us all recognize that the vast majority of people everywhere have the same goals and are good and kind people at heart."

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Is it safe to go there? The U.S. travel advisory system, explained

If you’re planning an international trip, here’s how to use the State Department’s country-by-country guide to minimize your risk of encountering crime, violence, or civil unrest.

On October 19, the U.S. Department of State issued a rare advisory that Americans overseas “exercise increased caution” due to heightened tensions and chances of terrorism around the world, spurred by the Israel-Hamas war. It’s part of a system of travel warnings that’s been around in some form since 1978, designed to help citizens assess how safe a destination might be at a given time.

The current version of the system, which launched in 2018, gives fluid rankings from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel), indicating how risky countries (and in some cases, regions) are for Americans to visit. Rankings are based on factors such as crime rates, civil unrest, and the threat of terrorism. They are meant to give “clear, timely, and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions,” says a State Department spokesperson.  

Not surprisingly, on October 14, the State Department moved Israel and the West Bank to Level 3 (reconsider travel) and Gaza to Level 4.  

Here’s how the advisories work and how to use them.

What is a travel advisory?

The U.S. State Department inaugurated the travel advisory system in 1978, initially aiming warnings at airlines and travel companies. The system was scrutinized after the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight from London to New York , which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland , killing all 259 passengers and crew plus 11 people on the ground.  

Investigations found U.S. authorities had been aware of a credible threat to a Pan Am flight but hadn’t informed the public. In response, the media and consular offices began issuing travel warnings. In 2018 the U.S. introduced its current four-tier advisory system. There are near-identical versions in Canada , Australia , and New Zealand .

To determine rankings, the State Department considers a nation’s political volatility, crime trends, medical care standards, and the threat of kidnappings or terrorism. (Politics also ends up playing an unspoken role.) Some countries, such as Russia , receive a Level 4 ranking partly because the U.S. government may have limited ability to assist citizens there. Others rise to Level 4 due to a crisis, such as the military coup that recently rocked Niger .  

When the travel advisory system relaunched in 2018, it also included state-by-state evaluations for Mexico , which draws more than 11 million American travelers a year. “Some Mexican states are quite safe for U.S. tourists, while others are riskier due to narco-trafficking violence,” says Ryan Larsen , executive director of the Institute for Global Engagement at Western Washington University. Yucatán and Campeche states are currently at Level 1, while six other Mexican states are at Level 4, including Sinaloa.

( Solo female travelers share tips for staying safe on the road .)

Epidemics and natural disasters also can prompt a travel advisory number to rise. Americans may be prompted to reconsider visiting a country recovering from a tsunami or major wildfires, since their presence could hinder rehabilitation efforts. This occurred after the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey . Such advisories can remain in place for weeks or months.

The strictest-ever advisories came in April 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic , says Larsen, who did a thesis   on U.S. travel warnings. At that time, about 80 percent of the world’s countries were at Level 4.

At press time, about 70 percent of the world’s countries were rated Level 1 or Level 2 by the State Department, indicating they’re relatively safe. There are currently 21 countries at Level 3 and 21 at Level 4.

How to use travel advisories

Before booking an international trip, consult the State Department website to see where your destination ranks. While Level 1 and 2 countries are considered relatively safe, you should still register with the U.S. Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) . This lets Americans overseas use their smartphone to receive travel advisory updates and alerts about emerging dangers in their destination (protests, extreme weather).

Level 3 countries are considered more dangerous for foreign visitors, who should “reconsider travel,” according to the State Department. If you are headed to a Level 3 country, which currently includes Pakistan and Colombia , do wider research on its safety and on the places you’ll visit there, advises Jun Wen , a professor of tourism at Australia’s Edith Cowan University. For instance, while some remote areas in the Colombian Amazon still suffer from drug-related violence, cities such as Cartagena and Medellín are relatively safe. Going on a fully guided group or individual tour can also help you navigate destinations where political unrest or crime might impact your safety.

Travelers should study not only the advisories provided by their own country, but also by the U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia to broaden their understanding of the risks in Level 3 countries, Wen says. As for Level 4 countries, that “Do Not Travel” advice couldn’t be any clearer.

Other countries also issue warnings to their citizens about visiting the U.S. Canada recently informed its LGBTQ travelers they may be affected by laws in certain U.S. states. Australia, meanwhile, cautions its citizens visiting the U.S. to be wary of higher crime rates and gun violence, and even to learn safety strategies for active shooter scenarios.

People who visit countries with Level 3 or Level 4 travel advisories don’t just risk their safety. They also may have travel insurance complications, says Linchi Kwok , tourism management professor at California State Polytechnic University Pomona.

( How travel insurance can—and can’t—help when your plans change .)

They must pay much higher premiums, and their insurance can be invalidated if the advisory for their destination is elevated. “Medical coverage can be minimal, too, particularly if the travel advisory is put up against a disease or an outbreak,” says Kwok. “I encourage Americans to think twice before they travel to Level 3 and especially Level 4 destinations.”

Warnings and their impact on tourism

Travel advisories can be biased, Larsen argues. His research found that, while the U.S. didn’t often overstate the risk of travel to countries with which it had poor relations, it did often understate the danger of visiting nations that were its close allies. Elevating a travel advisory can stoke diplomatic tensions between two countries. Once a country is raised to Level 3 or 4, many tourists will avoid visiting, and many American universities won’t let students join study abroad programs.

The economic ramifications of a level change impact individual businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies. For instance, J 2   adventures , a Jewish-focused tour company, saw most of its fall group trips to Israel canceled after the start of the Israel-Hamas war (and the higher advisory level), says cofounder Guy Millo. “This is not just because of the violence on the ground, but because of practical considerations like accessibility of commercial airline flights,” he says. “Most tourists from North America and places around the globe simply couldn’t get here even if they wanted to.”  

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Everything you need to know about State Department travel advisories

When traveling abroad, the top concern for many Americans is safety.

Whether it is due to ongoing conflict, special events such as the 2024 Paris Olympics , natural disasters like a volcano currently erupting in Iceland or an uptick in crime , conditions of countries can change rapidly, affecting both travelers and locals.

To help keep American travelers safe, the U.S. Department of State issues and maintains travel advisories for U.S. citizens based on current circumstances.

These advisories can be particularly helpful for first-time and younger travelers, though the agency encourages all people to review them for their desired destination ahead of travel.

What are travel advisories based on?

Although travel warnings originate from the State Department and live on its website , they are a joint effort between the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizens Services and U.S. consulates and embassies worldwide.

"We've got our diplomats and consular officers on the ground in all those places, who have more up-to-date information than anyone in Washington could have," said Angela Kerwin, deputy assistant secretary for Overseas Citizens Services, during a Zoom interview Thursday. "But we use a variety of information in order to look at the criteria that go into our travel advisories around the world."

In addition to crime reports, nongovernmental organization reports and those from international organizations such as the United Nations, the government considers nine risk factors in determining the level at which each country's advisory should be set:

• C — Crime : Widespread violence or organized crime is present in areas of the country. Local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
• T — Terrorism : Terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups or other targets may exist.
• U — Civil Unrest : Political, economic, religious and/or ethnic instability exists and may cause violence, major disruptions and/or safety risks.
• H — Health : Health risks, including current disease outbreaks or a crisis that disrupts a country's medical infrastructure. The issuance of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Health Notice may also be a factor.
• N — Natural Disaster : A natural disaster, or its aftermath, poses danger.
• E — Time-limited Event : Short-term events, such as elections, sporting events or other incidents that may pose safety risks.
• K — Kidnapping or Hostage Taking : Criminal or terrorist individuals or groups have threatened to and/or have seized or detained and threatened to kill, injure or continue to detain individuals in order to compel a third party (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing something as a condition of release.
• D — Wrongful Detention : The risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals exists.
• O — Other : Potential risks are not covered by previous risk indicators. Read the country's travel advisory for details.

Although the most recently added category, Wrongful Detention, only applies to a handful of countries, it's an important criterion for travelers to note when a country has detained a U.S. citizen without cause.

Level 1 to 4 tiered warning system

Based on that nine-rubric system, plus reports and input from U.S. consulates and embassies in these countries, the agency assigns each country a Level 1 to 4 tiered warning , with 1 being the lowest level, indicating relative safety, and 4 being the highest, meaning travelers should not visit.

Level 1: Exercise normal precautions

This is the lowest level a country can achieve, making it among the safest for Americans to visit. As with any travel, there is always some risk, so every country will always have at least a Level 1 advisory.

Level 2: Exercise increased caution

Under a Level 2 designation, a country has increased safety or security risks, but they likely won't preclude you from traveling there.

Level 3: Reconsider travel

A Level 3 advisory tells travelers to potentially defer trips to the country in question, as serious potential risks exist.

Level 4: Do not travel

The most serious advisories are Level 4 recommendations, which alert you to avoid travel to designated countries and areas due to a greater threat of potentially life-threatening risks and limited resources to help Americans.

What else to know about travel advisories

In addition to the State Department's general travel advisory, a country's information page will also provide any timely alerts from the corresponding U.S. embassy and/or consulate to consider.

There are also certain countries where the agency can provide "carve-outs" to communicate information related to specific areas or regions within a particular country.

"Perhaps the country itself is a Level 3 country, but there is one particular border area that has ongoing kinetic activity of some sort, and we'd say that would be a Level 4," Kerwin explained.

These carve-outs are most often found in Mexico , as the U.S. shares a border with the country and more Americans travel to Mexico for tourism than elsewhere.

"Mexico is a special case. We also have more U.S. consulates than we do in any other country in the world, and for that reason, we are able to provide state-by-state travel advisory levels in Mexico," Kerwin said. "[With] other countries around the world, [we] just simply don't have the ability to have that level of detail; the specificity is greater for Mexico."

Because data is the main source of information for crafting these advisories, not all alerts can be created equally.

"It is impossible to say that we can apply all nine criteria exactly the same in country A as we do in country B. You're going to have more statistical data of a reliable type for ... Germany than you would Chad," Kerwin explained. "So to compare the exact same report for Germany with the exact same report for Chad is not something that makes sense because it's generally not going to be available."

In those cases, the government relies on its embassies and consulates, which are present in most of these countries, to help inform its alerts.

"We've got people on the ground who are often best positioned to help us evaluate the number of kidnappings, the level of civil unrest, how many terrorist attacks reported or not reported," she said.

Note that a lack of readily available or accurate data doesn't make the country inherently riskier or more dangerous for travelers.

"It just means that we don't have the exact type of data that we would have in another country," Kerwin said. "We would have to rely more heavily on embassy reporting and our folks there, but it does not necessarily mean it is a more dangerous country."

Does a Level 4 alert mean I should avoid traveling there?

In short, the answer is yes.

At the time of publication, there were 19 countries with Level 4 alerts, per the State Department.

"These are the places we deem as the most dangerous for U.S. citizens to travel to, and we would really like U.S. citizens to look at other destinations," Kerwin said. In part, that's because of the limited consular or embassy services available in these places should an American need help.

"Every U.S. citizen gets to make up their own mind on where they want to travel. That's all we can do as a government," she continued. "If a U.S. citizen finds themselves in a situation where they need to travel to one of these countries for whatever reason, we would ask that they look at our travel advisories in advance, read our country information sheet. We would certainly recommend if we have a functioning embassy, that they save that information on their phone so they can contact the embassy if necessary."

But overall, travelers should avoid traveling to Level 4 countries if possible.

"Each of these Level 4 countries will tell you what our concerns are with these countries and [that] our criteria has been met," Kerwin said. "We believe it is quite dangerous to go there."

How often are State Department travel advisories updated?

When viewing a travel advisory, you'll note at the top the date it was last updated, as alerts are updated on a rolling basis.

Generally speaking, Level 4 and Level 3 alerts are updated at least once every six months, while Level 1 and Level 2 alerts are examined at least once per year, pending evolving circumstances.

"If something changes or some precipitating event, we would do it earlier as needed," Kerwin said.

For example, on Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik issued its own alert regarding a volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland that morning. When embassy alerts are issued for isolated events in a particular region of a country, it does not necessarily reflect the overall level of the country as a whole.

Despite the volcano warning, Iceland remained at Level 1 , as it has since July. If it had been a more widespread eruption affecting general European air travel, that would have prompted the agency to update the travel advisory as a whole.

"Right now, by sending out that security alert, we're saying stay away from the volcano, but if you wanna go have dinner in Reykjavik, follow our regular information we have on our travel advisory," Kerwin said.

That volcano alert also went out via the agency's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program , which sends relevant security updates from the nearest U.S. Consulate, and which Kerwin advised travelers to enroll in as another way to stay safe abroad.

"So anybody who is registered in STEP traveling to or who is living in Iceland would've gotten an email to say, 'Hey, be aware the volcano erupted again today, we're watching it closely; pay attention,'" she explained. "We have those various security alerts that we can send out at any time in a country based on late-breaking events."

Special events, such as the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, will also trigger additional and/or more frequent alerts.

"We will be paying special attention to that. We expect there will be a large number of U.S. citizens that are headed in that direction to cheer on our team, and we want to make sure that we are giving them the best information we can about their time when they're traveling," Kerwin said.

Other things to consider when traveling abroad

As with travel in general, the State Department advises Americans heading overseas to prepare in advance.

"We have a slogan we've been using, and I like it; it's called 'travel smart from the start,' and that starts even before you decide what destination," Kerwin said. That slogan applies to details like checking that you have enough validity on your passport (most countries require six months at the time of entry) and buying travel insurance.

Kerwin also advises procuring the contact information for the nearest U.S. government presence (i.e., the embassy or consulate) via the State Department's list of U.S. embassies and consulates .

"Jot down on paper, take a picture on your phone and save the U.S. Embassy/Consulate phone number or email address so you can get in contact with us if there's a problem," she said. "And always be aware of your surroundings ... a heightened level of awareness ... is important for travelers no matter where they're going."

Bottom line

With travel comes an inherent risk, and the government aims to help travelers remain safe domestically and abroad.

While the decision to travel is ultimately up to the traveler, these travel advisories should be taken seriously.

"Our goal is to always provide the best advice and information we can for U.S. citizens so they can make their decisions as to where they wish they travel," Kerwin said.

Therefore, heed these travel warnings from the State Department via U.S. embassies, consulates and the department's STEP program.

"The final thing — and this is an important one — is to have fun," Kerwin added. "Travel is fantastic — you get to see new cultures, and you get to experience new languages and beautiful countries and beautiful cities. We want U.S. citizens to travel and have fun on their adventures around the world."

Related reading:

• Cancun travel advisory: State Department issues warning to US travelers heading to Mexico
• The difference between CDC and State Department travel warnings
• US issues worldwide travel advisory — here's what you should know
• Finally: US passport processing back to pre-pandemic time frame

The State Department Just Issued a Worldwide Travel Advisory for U.S. Citizens. Here’s Why 

T he U.S. Department of State issued a worldwide travel advisory on Friday due to a “potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests,” the agency announced . 

The State Department specifically pointed to increased violence against LGBTQ+ people and pride-related events as a reason for the advisory. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2022 crime report showed that anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes in the U.S. had steadily risen from the year prior, with a near 33% increase in reported hate crimes based on gender identity. 

LGBTQ+ protections largely vary worldwide, with regions like Latin America seeing greater gains in marriage equality , while in Europe, countries like Russia have gone so far as to target the queer community as an extremist organization .  

It is not the first time the State Department has issued such an alert. In October 2023, the agency also put out a worldwide caution advisory, asking Americans overseas to be careful due to “the potential for violence and increased tensions” worldwide. A similar alert was also issued in August 2022 after the death of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. 

Citizens should stay alert during pride celebrations and LGBTQ+ venues abroad, the Department suggested. It also asked people to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) program, which shares information regarding safety conditions in the country people are traveling to. The STEP program notifies travelers of any pertinent alerts while they are then out of the country.

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U.S. issues 2nd ‘increased caution’ travel advisory to popular summer vacation spot. Here’s what to know before you go

• Updated: May. 18, 2024, 3:11 p.m. |
• Published: May. 18, 2024, 10:00 a.m.

The U.S. State Department reissued an "increased caution" travel advisory to Tunisia due to terrorism. Canva

• Katherine Rodriguez | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The U.S. State Department reissued an “increased caution” travel advisory to Tunisia due to terrorism.

The State Department reissued the Level 2: Increased Caution advisory as an update to inform the public about “high-risk areas” in Tunisia prone to terrorism, including:

• Within 10 miles of the Algerian border except for Tabarka and Ain Draham.
• Within 10 miles of the border with Libya.
• The Mount Chaambi National Park, Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma, and Mount Mghila in Kasserine governorate.
• The Mount Orbata area in the Gafsa governorate.

Despite the warnings, Tunisia remains in the second-lowest category of travel advisories, and it is on par with countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany and more.

Tunisia is a popular destination among travelers in North America, with its capital city Tunis ranking as one of the most popular destinations for Canadians for the summer due to its history and vast stretches of Mediterranean beaches.

Tunisia is expecting 8.5 million tourists throughout the year , and to meet that demand, hotels such as Marriott and Club Med are opening resorts.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com .

Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at [email protected] . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips .

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Where are you going next ?

A Next 2 Travel Advisory acredita que planejar uma viagem é buscar a realização de sonhos sem deixar de surpreender.

É apontar para o cliente o destino certo para o perfil dele, ajudá-lo a encontrar o que busca nessas pausas tão essenciais à vida: relaxamento, conhecimento, prazer. Isso é personalização.

Nos vemos como conectores: juntamos o que há de melhor no turismo mundial com as aspirações mais profundas do viajante, seja num resort de luxo numa ilha remota das Filipinas ou num hotel urbano descolado no bairro do momento em Amsterdã. Temperamos tudo isso com muita pesquisa, sugestões exclusivas e dicas imperdíveis para que a viagem seja o que o cliente espera: única e inesquecível.

Venha conhecer o jeito Next2 de viajar.

We believe that planning a trip is helping to make a dream come true. It's pointing the clients to the right destination, helping them find what they seek in a vacation: relaxation, knowledge, bliss. This is what we believe a custom-made trip should be. We see ourselves as connectors, making the link between our clients and the best hotels and places in the world - for them. With a great amount of research and exclusive tips, we aim to fulfill the client’s expectations of a unique and unforgettable trip. Come and experience the Next2 way of travelling.

What's next ?

Nossas bullet tips: uma seleção de 3 dicas por lugar ou tipo de viagem, feita por viajantes experientes, para você se inspirar para sua próxima viagem.

3 dicas de São Paulo

Feirinha da Liberdade aos sábados, com petiscos no Izakaya Issa e Bubble Tea de sobremesa na Bubble Kill ou na Tea Station .

Exposições do Farol Santander + happy hour no Bar do Cofre lá mesmo (ex-caixa forte do antigo Banespa) + drinque e francesinha no bar Rêgo , novo point do centro.

Bike do shopping JK Iguatemi para percorrer a ciclovia e/ou o Parque do Povo + almoço no Spot do JK, na Ici Brasserie ou uma guloseima no Minoru .

3 dicas de londres

No bairro do Soho , não deixe de dar uma passada na Liberty , linda loja de departamentos, e na filial do Ben’s Cookies que fica bem em frente. Ali perto, em Marylebone, fica o Chiltern Firehouse , hotel e restaurante super badalado.

East London é o bairro do momento: comece pela Shoreditch High Street e siga em direção ao Old Spitalfields Market . Na Columbia Road , tem um mercado de flores incrível aos domingos!

Outro passeio muito legal: Borough Market + museu Tate Modern . Cruzando o rio, fica a histórica St. Paul's Cathedral e também o novo hotel The Ned um dos mais legais do momento, com nove restaurantes!

3 lugares para viajar sozinha

Salamanca : a cidade universitária espanhola é perfeita para as solo travelers mais tímidas. Além de linda e com vibrante cena cultural, tem também uma agitadíssima vida noturna, para dar conta dos estudantes de suas duas universidades e diversas escolas de inglês. Fica fácil fazer amigos.

Deserto do Atacama : pequena e adorável como só ela, San Pedro de Atacama é um dos destinos capaz de unir rapidinho solo travelers do mundo inteiro. Hospedar-se num dos hotéis all inclusive - como Explora e Tierra Atacama - também é excelente maneira de explorar ao máximo as belezas surreais da região fazendo novos amigos durante os passeios.

Paris : isso mesmo. Apesar da fama de cidade romântica, Paris é uma das cidades mais gostosas e fáceis para se explorar sozinho. Mais ainda: um dos poucos destinos do mundo em que mulheres almoçando e jantando sozinhas em restaurantes são uma constante dos bistrôs aos restaurantes estrelados.

3 dicas de portofino

Para uma experiência genuinamente italiana à beira mar: almoço no Taverna del Marinaio e jantar no Ristorante Puny , ambos no centrinho de Portofino, vendo a vida passar e comendo as melhores massas da vida! Destaque para o Spaghetti alle Vongole de ambos, incríveis!

O Belmond Hotel Splendido fica no alto da colina e tem a vista mais linda de Portofino, inesquecível! A atmosfera, a musica, o cheiro das rosas, tudo conspira para você querer voltar todos os anos! Vale muito a pena pedir o café da manhã no quarto e tomar na varanda com o mar à frente. O restaurante do hotel é sensacional, tanto para almoço como para um jantar mais animado com música ao vivo!

Alugue um barquinho no porto e vá dar um mergulho em San Fruttuoso. Aproveite e almoce por la no Da Giovani . Para boas compras no melhor estilo verão europeu vá na Antica Sartoria de Capri, que tem filial no centro de Portofino. Se jogue nas batas e longos de linho branco! São incríveis!

3 dicas de Orlando

Amo o hotel Four Seasons em Orlando! É a pedida certa para quem vai com a família!!!

Para compras, adoro o Premium Outlet , tem ótimas marcas e sempre encontro muito coisa para as crianças lá.

Ali pertinho fica uma filial do Shake Shack, onde tem o melhor hamburguer!

Passeio no centro com drinques / jantar no La Central , no Copan.

O seu material de viagem no seu bolso! Roteiro, vouchers e dicas sempre a mão no seu celular, mesmo offline.

• Itinerário dia a dia personalizado;
• Passagens, vouchers e documentos de viagem;
• Dicas exclusivas de passeios, restaurantes e experiências;
• Chat direto com seu consultor.

State Department Issues Travel Advisory For US Citizens

The US State Department has just issued a worldwide travel advisory for Americans .

The statement, issued Friday, May 17, warns of the “potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against US citizens and interests.”

The department said it is advising US citizens overseas to exercise increased caution. 

"The Department of State is aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events," the statement noted.

The department said US citizens should:

Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, including Pride celebrations and venues frequented by LGBTQI+ persons.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive information and alerts "and make it easier to locate you in an emergency overseas."

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State Department issues 'worldwide caution' for travelers, warns of anti-LGBTQ+ violence

The U.S. State Department issued a “ worldwide caution ” for Americans overseas Friday, warning about potential threats to LGBTQ+ travelers and other violence.

“The Department of State is aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events and advises U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution,” the advisory said. The warning did not name any specific terrorist organizations or events.

The security alert also highlighted the general “potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests.” The State Department previously issued a similar advisory in October in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

The warning advised Americans to stay aware of their surroundings “in locations frequented by tourists, including Pride celebrations and venues frequented by LGBTQI+ persons.” The State Department also advised travelers to sign up for its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which communicates updates and can help locate users in case of emergency.

"The U.S. Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas," a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

"We take seriously our commitment to provide U.S. citizens with clear, timely, and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions," they added.

‘We’re here to stay’: Why drag is critical in the US and sometimes safer abroad

The advisory comes after the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security warned last week that foreign terrorist organizations or their supporters could target LGBTQ+ “events and venues” during Pride Month in June.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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Disrupting Irregular Migration: Best Practices in Response to Recent Developments in the Aviation Sector

The Departments of State, Homeland Security, and the Treasury are jointly issuing this alert to notify airlines, air charter operators, travel agents, and service providers of the ways in which migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks are exploiting legitimate transportation services to facilitate irregular migration to the United States. This statement conveys the U.S. government’s efforts to promote responsible practices in the industry, prevent and disrupt illicit activity, and enhance compliance with lawful immigration and migration pathways. It follows an important announcement by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and several member airlines of their commitment to strengthen collaboration with governments and international organizations to address irregular migration and to consider commercial measures to minimize illicit travel.

Recent developments in the aviation sector, described below, expose migrants, airlines, air charter operators, travel agents, and service providers to increased safety, economic, reputational, financial, logistical, and legal risks. This statement identifies a number of recommendations that could help industry stakeholders and governments reduce their exposure to risks associated with facilitating irregular migration.

Migrants are increasingly traversing the region using Managua as a disembarkation point to continue the journey northward by overland means. The United States has shared releasable intelligence with the aviation sector highlighting this trend and underscoring the need for greater enforcement of airline policies with respect to flights in and out of Managua. In particular, actions by the Nicaraguan government are of grave concern. President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo have put in place permissive-by-design migration policies that have introduced opportunities for migrant smuggling and trafficking networks to exploit migrants for economic gain and fuel dangerous, irregular travel towards the U.S. southwest border.

There are numerous examples of how ruthless smuggling networks have taken advantage of these routes:

In September 2023, Ofelia Hernandez-Salas was extradited to the United States by Mexico for allegedly conspiring with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of large numbers of migrants into the United States from and through Bangladesh, Yemen, Pakistan, Eritrea, India, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Russia, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Hernandez-Salas took advantage of commercial routes and charter flights to facilitate the movement of individuals to the U.S. southwest border.

In December 2023, French authorities thwarted an attempt by an organization to move individuals from India, through France, into Nicaragua for further transportation and smuggling arrangements to the U.S. southwest border. More recently, in May 2024, authorities in Jamaica refused entry to a charter flight of irregular migrants that were seeking to travel to the U.S. southwest border.

In May 2024, an Egyptian court initiated the trial of 16 individuals accused of smuggling migrants to the United States. The individuals face criminal charges related to organized crime and human smuggling. According to the charges, the group arranged air transportation of migrants and placed the migrants in dangerous, degrading, and inhuman circumstances throughout the smuggling process.

Recommended Industry Actions

The following are recommended best practices, subject to applicable laws and regulations and, as appropriate according to their risk, based on: (i) their role; (ii) the information available to them; and (iii) the types of transactions in which they engage:

Recommendation 1: Monitor high-risk routes. Proactive measures to identify flight segments/routes known to be used by migrants and migrant smuggling or human trafficking networks can prevent the exploitation of those routes. The United States is closely tracking this issue and can provide relevant information to support airline efforts. IATA and several airlines already have announced voluntary steps industry can take in support of this effort.

Recommendation 2: Report companies that trigger concerns. Industry participants can report concerning activity, including information about travel agencies known or suspected to be engaging in activities supporting irregular migration and migrant smuggling or human trafficking networks to their U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) liaisons, relevant law enforcement and civil aviation authorities, and IATA. As appropriate, carriers may take proactive administrative actions, such as by restricting the ability of agencies known or suspected to be supporting irregular migration to conduct financial transactions with airlines for the purpose of making reservations and ticketing.

Recommendation 3: Undertake appropriate due diligence. Airlines can reduce risk by carrying out appropriate due diligence to protect against the exploitation of services. Conducting increased diligence when dealing with intermediary companies (e.g., travel agents or brokers) that conceal their ownership or otherwise engage in unusually opaque practices. Doing so can help mitigate deceptive practices that create risk.

Recommendation 4: Transmit Advance Passenger Information (API). All airlines should comply with government regulations requiring the transmission of accurate and timely Advance Passenger Information (API) prior to departure, beginning at 24 hours prior to scheduled takeoff to enable proper record checks and offload recommendations.

Actions the United States will Continue to Take to Halt Irregular Migration and the Exploitation of Migrant Populations:

Action 1: Government-to-Government Training and Information Sharing: The U.S. Government will work with governments to identify travel patterns and routes of concern and share indicators and best practices for addressing irregular migration.

Action 2: Industry Training: The U.S. Government will share information with and train airlines to help them detect migrant smuggling and human trafficking cases, signs of irregular migration, fraudulent documents, and imposters. Enhancing foreign partner passenger analysis units and helping them fully leverage Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) transmission will aid in illuminating emerging trends, targeting malafide passengers, and identifying migration facilitators.

Action 3: Visa Restrictions: Under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 212(a)(3)(C), the Secretary of State has recently announced a visa restriction policy that targets owners, executives, and senior officials of companies providing transportation by land, sea, or charter air designed for use primarily by persons intending to migrate irregularly to the United States.

The State Department has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on several individuals and their family members for knowingly facilitating the travel of irregular migrants to the U.S. southwest border.

Action 4: Sanctioning transnational criminal organizations: The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will continue to impose sanctions on transnational criminal organizations, including migrant smuggling organizations, their facilitators, and their support networks, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13581, as amended by E. O. 13863. OFAC is also prepared to use, as appropriate, other sanctions authorities to target human smuggling activity, including its Global Magnitsky authorities under E.O. 13818 that target persons involved in corruption or serious human rights abuses related to human smuggling and other irregular migration.

Sanctions actions apply broadly and carry serious consequences. OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons with or within the United States involving the property or interests in property of any individual or entity that is sanctioned. All U.S. persons must comply with OFAC’s prohibitions—including all U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens whether in the United States or abroad, all persons within the United States, and all U.S.-incorporated entities and their foreign branches. Violations of OFAC regulations could trigger civil or criminal penalties. Moreover, OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations based on strict liability, meaning that a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction may be held civilly liable even if that person did not know or have reason to know that it was engaging in a transaction that was prohibited under sanctions laws and regulations administered by OFAC.

Action 5: Investigate and prosecute migrant smuggling and human trafficking: The U.S. government will continue to investigate and prosecute migrant smuggling and human trafficking cases through collaboration with foreign governments and the aviation industry and pursue criminal charges against migrant smugglers and human traffickers, and their co-conspirators.

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Meningococcal Disease Cases Linked to Travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA): Ensure Pilgrims are Current on Meningococcal Vaccination

Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network May 20 2024, 10:30 AM ET CDCHAN-00508

Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to alert healthcare providers to cases of meningococcal disease linked to Umrah travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, that can be performed any time in the year; the Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage this year taking place June 14–19, 2024. Since April 2024, 12 cases of meningococcal disease linked to KSA travel for Umrah have been reported to national public health agencies in the United States (5 cases), France (4 cases), and the United Kingdom (3 cases). Two cases were in children aged ≤18 years, four cases were in adults aged 18–44 years, four cases were in adults aged 45–64 years, and two cases were in adults aged 65 years or older. Ten cases were in patients who traveled to KSA, and two were in patients who had close contact with travelers to KSA. Ten cases were caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W (NmW), one U.S. case was caused by serogroup C (NmC), and the serogroup is unknown for one U.S. case. Of nine patients with known vaccination status, all were unvaccinated. The isolates from the one U.S. NmC case and two NmW cases (one U.S., one France) were resistant to ciprofloxacin; based on whole-genome sequencing, the remaining eight NmW isolates were all sensitive to penicillin and ciprofloxacin.

In the United States, quadrivalent meningococcal (MenACWY) conjugate vaccination is routinely recommended for adolescents, and also recommended for travelers to countries where meningococcal disease is hyperendemic or epidemic, including a booster dose of MenACWY if the last dose was administered 3–5 or more years previously (depending on the age at most recent dose received). In addition, all Hajj and Umrah pilgrims aged one year and older are required by KSA to receive quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine. Healthcare providers should work with their patients considering travel to perform Hajj or Umrah to ensure that those aged one year or older have received a MenACWY conjugate vaccine within the last 5 years administered at least 10 days prior to arrival in KSA. Healthcare providers should also maintain increased suspicion for meningococcal disease in anyone presenting with symptoms of meningococcal disease after recent travel to KSA for Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage. U.S. health departments and healthcare providers should preferentially consider using rifampin, ceftriaxone, or azithromycin instead of ciprofloxacin for chemoprophylaxis of close contacts of meningococcal disease cases associated with travel to KSA.

Background Meningococcal disease , caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis , is a rare but severe illness with a case-fatality rate of 10–15%, even with appropriate antibiotic treatment. Meningococcal disease often presents as meningitis with symptoms that may include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, or altered mental status. Meningococcal disease may also present as a meningococcal bloodstream infection with symptoms that may include fever, chills, fatigue, vomiting, cold hands and feet, severe aches and pains, rapid breathing, diarrhea, or, in later stages, a petechial or dark purple rash (purpura fulminans). While initial symptoms of meningococcal disease can at first be nonspecific, they worsen rapidly and can become life-threatening within hours. Survivors may experience long-term effects such as deafness or amputations of the extremities. Immediate antibiotic treatment for meningococcal disease is critical. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures are indicated for patients with suspected meningococcal disease. Healthcare providers should not wait for diagnostic testing or receipt of laboratory results before initiating treatment for suspected cases of meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease outbreaks have occurred previously in conjunction with mass gatherings including the Hajj pilgrimage. The most recent global outbreak of meningococcal disease associated with travel to KSA for Hajj was in 2000–2001 and was primarily caused by NmW. Since 2002, KSA has required that all travelers aged one year or older performing Hajj or Umrah provide documentation of either a) a MenACWY polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4 is no longer available in the United States) within the last 3 years administered at least 10 days prior to arrival or b) a MenACWY conjugate vaccine within the last 5 years administered at least 10 days prior to arrival. This requirement aligns with ACIP recommendations for revaccination of U.S. travelers to endemic areas who received their last dose 3–5 or more years previously (depending on the age at most recent dose received). Nevertheless, meningococcal vaccination coverage among Umrah travelers is known to be incomplete.

Close contacts of people with meningococcal disease should receive antibiotic chemoprophylaxis as soon as possible after exposure, regardless of immunization status, ideally less than 24 hours after the index patient is identified. Ciprofloxacin, rifampin, and ceftriaxone are the first-line antibiotics recommended for use as chemoprophylaxis. However, ciprofloxacin-resistant strains of N. meningitidis have been emerging in the United States and globally. CDC recently released implementation guidance for the preferential use of other recommended prophylaxis antibiotics in areas with multiple cases caused by ciprofloxacin-resistant strains. Health departments should discontinue using ciprofloxacin as prophylaxis for close contacts when, in a catchment area during a rolling 12-month period, both a) ≥2 invasive meningococcal disease cases caused by ciprofloxacin-resistant strains have been reported, and b) cases caused by ciprofloxacin-resistant strains account for ≥20% of all reported invasive meningococcal disease cases. Though a catchment area is defined as a “single contiguous area that contains all counties reporting ciprofloxacin-resistant cases,” in this circumstance, it is more appropriate to determine the catchment population based on travel history rather than geographic location at the time of diagnosis. Among the 11 global cases associated with travel to KSA that have antimicrobial sensitivity results available, 3 cases (27%) were caused by ciprofloxacin-resistant strains. Rifampin, ceftriaxone, or azithromycin should be preferentially considered instead of ciprofloxacin as prophylaxis for close contacts in the United States of meningococcal disease cases associated with travel to KSA.

Recommendations for Healthcare Providers

• Recommend vaccination with MenACWY conjugate vaccine for people considering travel to KSA to perform Hajj or Umrah (pilgrims) in addition to routine meningococcal vaccination for adolescents and other people at increased meningococcal disease risk.
• Maintain a heightened index of suspicion for meningococcal disease among symptomatic people who have recently been in KSA and among close contacts of people who have recently been in KSA, regardless of vaccination status.
• Immediately notify state, tribal, local, or territorial health departments about any suspected or confirmed cases of meningococcal disease in the United States.
• Preferentially consider using rifampin, ceftriaxone, or azithromycin instead of ciprofloxacin as prophylaxis for close contacts in the United States of meningococcal disease cases associated with travel in KSA.

Recommendations for Health Departments

• Consider outreach to local communities to promote meningococcal vaccination for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to KSA.
• Collect a detailed travel history for all reported cases of meningococcal disease.
• Continue to report cases of meningococcal disease in people who have recently been in KSA, or in close contacts of people who have recently been in KSA, to CDC at [email protected] in addition to routine reporting through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System ( NNDSS ).

Recommendations for the Public

• People considering travel to KSA to perform Hajj or Umrah should ensure they are current on vaccination with MenACWY vaccine as required by KSA . All travelers aged one year or older performing Hajj or Umrah should have received either a) a MenACWY polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4, no longer available in the United States) within the last 3 years administered at least 10 days prior to arrival or b) a quadrivalent MenACWY conjugate vaccine within the last 5 years administered at least 10 days prior to arrival.
• Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis may include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, photophobia (eyes being more sensitive to light), or altered mental status (confusion).
• Symptoms of meningococcal bloodstream infection may include fever and chills, fatigue, vomiting, cold hands and feet, severe aches and pains, rapid breathing, diarrhea, or, in later stages, a dark purple rash.
• Initial symptoms of meningococcal disease can at first be vague, but worsen rapidly, and can become life-threatening within hours.

For More Information

Healthcare Providers

• Clinical Information | Meningococcal Disease | CDC
• Meningococcal Vaccination: Information for Healthcare Professionals | CDC
• Meningococcal Disease | CDC Yellow Book 2024

Health Departments

• Meningococcal Disease Surveillance | CDC
• Meningococcal Disease | Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases | CDC
• Meningococcal Disease Outbreaks and Public Health Response | CDC
• Meningococcal Vaccination | CDC
• Signs and Symptoms | Meningococcal Disease | CDC
• Travelers’ Health: Saudi Arabia | CDC  
• Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Visit CDC-INFO or call 1-800-232-4636
• American Academy of Pediatrics. Meningococcal Infections. [Section 3]. In: Kimberlin DW, Barnett ED, Lynfield R, Sawyer MH, eds. Red Book: 2021–2024 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. Itasca, IL : American Academy of Pediatrics ; 2021;519–32. https://publications.aap.org/redbook/book/347/chapter/5754116/Meningococcal-Infections
• Mbaeyi SA, Bozio CH, Duffy J, et al. Meningococcal Vaccination: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2020. MMWR Recomm Rep 2020;69(No. RR-9):1–41. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr6909a1
• Badur S, Khalaf M, Öztürk S, et al. Meningococcal Disease and Immunization Activities in Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage: A review. Infectious Diseases and Therapy 2022;11(4):1343–1369. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-022-00620-0
• Yezli S, Gautret P, Assiri AM, Gessner BD, Alotaibi B. Prevention of meningococcal disease at mass gatherings: Lessons from the Hajj and Umrah. Vaccine . 2018;36(31):4603–4609. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.06.030 .
• Berry I, Rubis AB, Howie RL, et al. Selection of Antibiotics as Prophylaxis for Close Contacts of Patients with Meningococcal Disease in Areas with Ciprofloxacin Resistance — United States, 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024; 73:99–103. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7305a2
• Willerton L, Lucidarme J, Campbell H, et al. Geographically widespread invasive meningococcal disease caused by a ciprofloxacin resistant non-groupable strain of the ST-175 clonal complex. Journal of Infection 2020;81(4): 575–584. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2020.08.030

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What’s Behind the Security Warnings for Pride Events

Citing the potential for terrorism, the State Department, F.B.I. and Department of Homeland Security urged those attending L.G.B.T.Q. events to be vigilant. Here’s what to know.

By Derek M. Norman

This June, as many travelers make plans to attend Pride Month events around the world, including New York City’s giant parade on June 30, security concerns are casting a shadow on celebrations.

A travel advisory issued last week by the State Department advises U.S. citizens overseas to “exercise increased caution” at Pride celebrations, events and places popular with the L.G.B.T.Q. community because of the potential for terrorist attacks or acts of violence.

That advisory follows a joint public service announcement on May 10 from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that describes an increased security threat against Pride events in the United States and elsewhere and warns that terrorist organizations or supporters may seek to target the gatherings.

Neither alert mentions any specific threats or locations, nor do they advise against traveling. Here’s what to know.

What prompted the warnings?

The State Department is aware, its alert said, of increased potential for violence inspired by foreign terrorist organizations against the L.G.B.T.Q. community.

The F.B.I. and D.H.S. announcement pointed to a February 2023 anti-L.G.B.T.Q. article circulated online in pro-Islamic State circles. The ISIS messaging also encouraged followers to conduct attacks on “soft targets,” typically public places or events that are easily accessible.

Last June, the announcement said, the Austrian authorities foiled a plot to attack attendees at the Pride parade in Vienna with knives and a vehicle, arresting three people accused of being ISIS sympathizers.

The announcement also cited the eighth anniversary, on June 12, of the mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., in which an attacker claiming allegiance to ISIS killed 49 people.

The efforts to inspire violence against holiday celebrations, including Pride, are “compounded by the current heightened threat environment in the United States and other Western countries,” the announcement said.

How unusual is this?

Threats made against L.G.B.T.Q. people by terrorist organizations or their sympathizers are not uncommon.

Terrorist organizations can use such threats as a recruitment tool, allowing them to capitalize on shared prejudices, explained Colin P. Clarke, the director of research at the Soufan Group , a New York-based intelligence and security consulting firm.

“It’s another arrow in the quiver, and it allows groups to cast a wider net,” he wrote in an email. “Some potential recruits will be motivated by sectarianism, others by anti-Western propaganda, and yet others are motivated by homophobia. So, if it resonates, terrorist groups will use it as a form of incitement.”

The State Department maintains a web page with information tailored to L.G.B.T.Q. travelers, but a global security alert for Pride events is rare.

“The State Department’s recent worldwide travel advisory specifically targeting the L.G.B.T.Q.+ community is unlike any we’ve seen before, but it also aligns with the escalation of anti-L.G.B.T.Q.+ actions globally,” wrote John Tanzella, the president of IGLTA , an L.G.B.T.Q. travel network, in an email.

What should travelers do to stay safe?

“The first rule is to follow the advice and guidance of the Pride organization: They know their city and they know their event, and they will be working with police to keep you safe,” Steve Taylor, a board member of the European Pride Organizers Association and a leader of Copenhagen Pride , wrote in an email.

“Second, look out for each other,” he added. “Our eyes and ears are what will keep us safe. If something doesn’t look right, say something. And third, stick to the main events and make sure others know where you are going.”

In places like New York City, Pride event organizers are working with law enforcement and private security teams, as well as encouraging people to follow their safety guidance , which includes advice like having a buddy system and reporting any suspicious activity.

“There are bad actors,” said Sandra Perez, executive director of NYC Pride , the organization that sponsors the city’s Pride March, which drew 75,000 participants and about two million spectators last year, according to organizers. “What we know is we can’t allow their threats to kind of dictate our visibility.”

While people should always take safety seriously, she noted, there is also a power in the unity of showing up and celebrating.

When it comes to attendance at the march, Ms. Perez said, “The reality is, rain has sometimes a bigger impact than some of these other threats.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Derek M. Norman is a senior news assistant for the International section of The Times. More about Derek M. Norman

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Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

The Alaska Highway:  On an epic road trip, a family plots a course from Alaska to the Lower 48, passing through some of Canada’s most spectacular scenery .

Minorca:  Spend 36 hours on this slow-paced Spanish island , which offers a quieter and wilder retreat than its more touristy neighbors.

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London:  The Victoria and Albert Museum is a treasure trove of art and design. Here’s one besotted visitor’s plan for taking it all in .

Chicago travel agency ensuring clients know of State Department advisory for LGBTQ+ community

Officials urging US citizens to be extra cautious ahead of start of Pride Month

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Owners of a Chicago travel agency that specializes in gay group vacations around the world are ensuring their clients know about a recent warning from the U.S. State Department.

The State Department issued a global security alert about potential terror attacks against the LGBTQ+ community.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Officials are urging U.S. citizens to be extra cautious ahead of the start of Pride Month.

Bryan Herb and Joel Cabrera own Zoom Vacations.

"My first thought was when I saw the warning, like, well, people need to be extra careful when they're in these big crowd events, always know where the exit is, that kind of thing," Herb said.

While threats against the LGBTQ+ community are not uncommon, Equality Illinois CEO Brian Johnson said a widespread travel warning to a specific group is unusual.

"It also reinforces what we know to be true, which was that too many forces in our society, and globally, deny the dignity of queer people," Johnson said.

Johnson said data show hate crimes against queer people are on the rise.

"We are a community targeted more than any other community in recent years when it comes to hate crime. So yeah, I do think it is it is getting worse," Johnson said.

Despite the warnings, travel agents say their LBGTQ+ clients are not canceling any trips this summer.

Windy City Travel owner Lynn Farrell said they booked travel for destination June weddings in Italy.

"A lot of our clients are just, they're ready to go. They're going to be cautious. They're going to pack their patience. They're going to navigate through things, but they don't want to stop living their lives," Farrell said.

Herb said his community is a fearless one that has become numb to warnings and threats against them. Travel will go on.

"Whether we're getting a warning or not for the State Department. We always need to exercise extra caution. That's just goes without saying," Herb said.

The State Department warning comes days after the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning for the LGBTQ+ community to remain vigilant during pride events in the United States.

But, the FBI and Homeland Security did not name certain locations.

The FBI's Chicago office said, at this time, there are no specific threats to planned events in the Chicago area.

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Zika Travel Information

This page is archived for historical purposes and is no longer being updated. The content below shows the page as it was on May 15, 2024. For the latest Zika risk map, visit Countries and Territories at Risk for Zika .

Check this page for the most up-to-date information before you make travel plans.

Note:  The information on this page is for travelers to  international destinations and US territories . For information on Zika in US states, visit  Zika in the US . For the most current information about Zika virus, please visit  CDC’s Zika website .

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Zika Travel Recommendations by Traveler Type and Country Category

Know before you go! Zika continues to be a problem in many parts of the world. There is no vaccine to prevent infection. Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected  Aedes  species mosquito ( Ae. aegypti  and  Ae. albopictus ). Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects.

Your decision to delay or cancel travel is personal and complex. In making this decision, consider your travel destination and your ability to protect yourself from mosquito bites. CDC recommends that pregnant women and couples planning a pregnancy within the next 3 months consult with a health care provider in making this decision.

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1 These countries have a potential risk of Zika, but we do not have accurate information on the current level of risk. As a result, detection and reporting of new outbreaks may be delayed.

2 Because  Aedes aegypti  mosquitoes (the mosquitoes that most commonly spreads Zika) are present in these countries, Zika has the potential to be present, along with other mosquito-borne infections. Detection and reporting of cases and outbreaks may be delayed.

3 No  Aedes aegypti  mosquitoes (the mosquitoes that most commonly spreads Zika) have been reported in these countries. However, other  Aedes  species mosquitoes have been known to spread Zika, and these may be present.

Areas with Zika outbreaks (red areas):

Areas with current or past transmission but no Zika outbreak (purple areas):   American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Easter Island, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Singapore, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Uganda, United States (Continental US), United States Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam

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Technical note : Because of variations in laboratory and surveillance capacity internationally, data are not available to define levels of risk. CDC, the World Health Organization, and the European CDC have jointly reviewed the scientific literature.

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18th May 2024

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Zhukovskiy in Moscow Oblast Destination Guide Russia

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Zhukovskiy in Moscow Oblast, Russia

Safety Score: 4,4 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning please reconsider your need to travel to Russia.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Russia . Last Update: 2024-05-22 08:01:51

Delve into Zhukovskiy

Zhukovskiy in Moscow Oblast with it's 97,200 habitants is located in Russia about 22 mi (or 36 km) south-east of Moscow, the country's capital town.

Current time in Zhukovskiy is now 02:45 AM (Thursday). The local timezone is named Europe / Moscow with an UTC offset of 3 hours. We know of 7 airports close to Zhukovskiy, of which two are larger airports. The closest airport in Russia is Bykovo Airport in a distance of 3 mi (or 5 km), North-West. Besides the airports, there are other travel options available (check left side).

There are several Unesco world heritage sites nearby. The closest heritage site in Russia is Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye in a distance of 18 mi (or 29 km), West.

While being here, you might want to pay a visit to some of the following locations: Ramenskoye, Orekhovo-Borisovo Yuzhnoye, Moscow, Cheremushki and Vostochnoe Degunino. To further explore this place, just scroll down and browse the available info.

Local weather forecast

Todays local weather conditions & forecast: 21°c / 70 °f.

Thursday, 23rd of May 2024

17°C (63 °F) 9°C (49 °F) Sky is clear, gentle breeze, clear sky.

Friday, 24th of May 2024

17°C (62 °F) 10°C (51 °F) Sky is clear, gentle breeze, clear sky.

Saturday, 25th of May 2024

18°C (65 °F) 14°C (57 °F) Sky is clear, gentle breeze, clear sky.

Videos from this area

These are videos related to the place based on their proximity to this place.

JZX100 Mark II 1JZ-GTE VVTi 110~230 pull on bold tyres

Published: November 09, 2014 Length: 01:13 min Rating: 4 of 5 Author: 0Hoon

JZX100 Mark II 110~230km/h pull recorded on private road (Zhukovskiy, Russia) Stock motor with stock turbo running stock boost with BPU mods: -Blitz front mount intercooler -Blitz pod filter...

Supercar vs reactive plane race. Final of tournament in Moscow airdrome

Published: November 23, 2014 Length: 56:48 min Rating: 5 of 5 Author: Dolgaceva Irina

This is final of car vs plane tournament held in august 2014 in Zhukovskiy, Russia. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with turbokit fighting against MIG 29 reactive massacre rer plane. Originally...

Attractions and noteworthy things

Distances are based on the centre of the city/town and sightseeing location. This list contains brief abstracts about monuments, holiday activities, national parcs, museums, organisations and more from the area as well as interesting facts about the region itself. Where available, you'll find the corresponding homepage. Otherwise the related wikipedia article.

Kratovo, Russia

Kratovo is an urban locality in Ramensky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located 40 kilometers southeast of Moscow. Population: 8,277; 6,855; 6,295.

Located at 55.6, 38.15 (Lat. / Lng.), about 1 miles away. Wikipedia Article Urban-type settlements in Moscow Oblast

Ramenskoye Airport

Ramenskoye Airport, also known as Ramenskoye Airfield or Zhukovsky Airfield, is an airport in Moscow Oblast, Russia located 40 km southeast of Moscow and near the town of Ramenskoye. It serves as a major aircraft testing facility since the Cold War years with the majority of the major Russian OKBs having facilities on the airfield. It is also now used by the Ministry of Emergency Situations and cargo transportation. This airfield was also used as a test site for the Soviet Buran Spacecraft.

Located at 55.5533, 38.1517 (Lat. / Lng.), about 3 miles away. Wikipedia Article Soviet Air Force bases, Russian Air Force bases, Airports built in the Soviet Union, Airports in Moscow Oblast

Gromov Flight Research Institute

M.  M.  Gromov Flight Research Institute or LII for short is an important Russian aircraft test base, scientific research center located in Zhukovsky, 40 km south-east of Moscow. It has one of the longest runways in Europe at 5,403 m. LII's concrete surfacing covers the area of 2.5 million square meters. LII was used as the backup landing site for the Shuttle Buran test program and also as a test base for a Buran's aerodynamic prototypes.

Located at 55.5582, 38.1465 (Lat. / Lng.), about 3 miles away. Wikipedia Article Russian Air Force bases, Airports in Moscow Oblast, Airports built in the Soviet Union, Science and technology in the Soviet Union

Nationwide popular locations

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Smaller cities in the vicinity

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Notable Places in the Area

Elektrostal Satellite Map

Popular Destinations in Moscow Oblast

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