In September, the U.S. State Department released a series of new travel warnings. The levels range from one (exercise normal precautions) to four (do not travel).
Americans should heed the latest warnings for several well-known locations when planning their travel during the shoulder and vacation seasons.
Here are the updates you may have missed in the last month.
Australia – Level 1
According to the State Department’s Sept. 8 travel advisory update, visitors can explore Australia in the fall (it’s actually springtime Down Under) and take the usual normal precautions
New Zealand – Level 1
New Zealand is classified as Level 1 for the South Pacific from October, allowing passengers to make plans without concern.
Sri Lanka – Level 2
Due to civil instability and terrorism following the State Department’s September 5 recommendation, travelers visiting Sri Lanka are urged to exercise increased caution.
“Protests over the economic and political situation in Sri Lanka could erupt at any time. In some instances, police have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters,” officials warn. “U.S. citizens are reminded to avoid all gatherings, even peaceful ones, that could turn violent with little or no warning.”
Nigeria – Level 3
The U.S. government advises American citizens to carefully reconsider their travel plans to Nigeria during the autumn season due to significant concerns related to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the presence of armed gangs.
For those who decide to visit Nigeria, it is strongly recommended that they steer clear of certain areas for safety reasons. These areas include Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and northern Adamawa states, primarily due to the heightened risks associated with terrorism and kidnapping. Similarly, travelers should exercise caution in Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states due to the elevated risk of kidnapping. Additionally, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states (except for Port Harcourt) should be approached with caution due to concerns related to crime, kidnapping, and the presence of armed gangs.
Russia – Level 4
In light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the State Department increased its Level 4 travel advice for Russia this fall.
“Do not travel to Russia due to the unpredictable consequences of the unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment and the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, and the possibility of terrorism,” the advisory states.
Americans traveling through Russia are strongly advised to leave the country immediately.