U.S. travel alerts: ‘Increased caution’ reissued for 2 European countries

Over the past week, the United States published, revised or reissued 10 different travel advisories, including warnings for the popular European tourist destinations of Italy and the United Kingdom.

Both European countries fall into the lower “Exercise Increased Caution” alert category, a “Level 2” alert. “Level 4” is the highest.

Issued by the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, the advisories are periodically assessed and revised or reissued. Italy and the United Kingdom were reissued advisories, both identified for increased caution due to the potential threat of terrorism.

Tourists considering travel to Mexico should also carefully review the revised alert published on Sept. 6, which outlines numerous areas of the country that should be avoided, largely due to crime and kidnapping.

Also this week, “Level 2” alerts for exercising increased caution while traveling were issued for:

• Sri Lanka, due to civil unrest and the threat of terrorism
• Jordan, due to the threat of terrorism. However, the alert warns that some parts of the country should be avoided, including the immediate area surrounding the Jordan-Syria border, due to armed conflict.
• Bahrain, due to the threat of terrorism
• Saudi Arabia, due to the threat of missile and drone attacks from Yemen and terrorism

Meanwhile, the more serious “Level 3” alerts, which advise Americans to “Reconsider Travel,” were issued this week for:

• Guyana, due to crime. “Violent crime, including murder and armed robbery, is common, especially at night,” the alert reads. “Local police often lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.”
• Bangladesh, due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism.
• Pakistan, due to the threat of terrorism.

All travel alerts issued by the United States are available on the U.S. Department of State website.