United States Reissues 'Do Not Travel' Warning

The United States Department of State has an extensive database of travel advisories for hundreds of countries across the globe designed to keep travelers as informed as possible during their overseas journeys.

This week, the State Department reissued one of its most severe warnings, warning people against traveling to one nation in the Middle East for any reason.

United States Travel Warnings

The United States uses a four-tier system for its list of travel advisories, ranging from the relatively low-risk Level 1 to the most serious Level 4 warnings.

A Level 1 travel advisory serves as a gentle reminder for travelers to “exercise normal precautions” while abroad. This designation is generally given to countries widely considered safe, including Canada, Australia, and Greece.

By contrast, a Level 2 travel advisory urges visitors to “exercise increased caution” in destinations where issues such as theft may be more prevalent. Countries like Brazil, France, Italy, and India currently fall under this category.

Level 3 advisories escalate the concern, warning travelers to “reconsider travel” because of heightened safety risks. This level applies to nations such as Colombia, Pakistan, and Uganda.

Level 4 advisories carry the strongest warning, telling travelers to “do not travel” under any circumstances. Countries in this category include Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

'Do Not Travel' Warning For Yemen

This week, the United States reissued one of its most severe travel advisories, warning its citizens against traveling to the nation of Yemen "for any reason" due to risk of terrorism, unrest, crime, health risks, kidnapping, and landmines.

"U.S. citizens should not travel to Yemen for any reason. The U.S. Embassy in Sana’a suspended its operations in February 2015. The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency or routine consular services to U.S. citizens in Yemen," the updated travel advisory reads.

The advisory comes after the Department of State has re-designated Ansarallah, commonly referred to as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Outdoor Adventure in Yemen

The U.S. Department of State has warned against traveling to Socotra, which is an island off the coast of Yemen that has become known for its incredible biodiversity and is often called the "Galápagos of the Indian Ocean."

While it might be tempting for some travelers to attempt to travel to Socotra, the U.S. warned that some companies outside of Yemen have "misrepresented the safety of the Yemeni island of Socotra."

The U.S. warned that some companies offer tourist trips with unofficial and invalid "visas."

"These companies put tourists in danger and legal jeopardy," the travel advisory warns. "Only the Republic of Yemen government can issue valid Yemeni visas."

The Department of State warns that the United States government cannot assist U.S. citizens in Socotra, either.