by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:45 AM ET, Wed March 23, 2016
Photo courtesy of Thinkstock
Following the terrorist attacks on Brussels that left 34 people dead and more than 200 wounded, the United States Department of State issued an official travel alert Tuesday.
In addition, authorities in Europe have announced that Brussels Airport will remain closed through at least Wednesday afternoon as emergency crews and police continue to investigate, according to FoxNews.com.
The State Department released the following travel alert via its official website:
"Terrorist groups continue to plan near-term attacks throughout Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants, and transportation. This Travel Alert expires on June 20, 2016. U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or using mass transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings and avoid crowded places. Exercise particular caution during religious holidays and at large festivals or events."
READ MORE: Terror in Brussels: Travel Agents React
Eurostar trains to Brussels have also been cancelled, as Europe continues to boost security.
For travelers who had scheduled trips to Brussels, airlines in the United States and around the world will be waiving fees for passengers who want to rebook flights following the attacks in Belgium, according to USA Today.
The terrorist attacks in Brussels and across Europe are also impacting the travel industry, as several companies are reporting lower bookings for the summer. Travel firm Thomas Cook told FoxNews.com that only 40 percent of the summer season has been sold, and airfare prediction app Hopper also stated that bookings to France have dropped eight-to-10 percent from 2015.
Officials from Hopper also reported that overall interest in Europe as a travel destination is down about 13 percent as compared to last year, due in part to a series of terrorist attacks and the migrant crisis.
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