20 Key Travel Advisories Announced in April

The U.S. State Department was busy updating its travel advisories for every country around the world in April. The month also saw officials announce plans to cut back on "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisories this spring. While roughly 10 percent of the world still falls under this designation, the changes more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic are a welcome sight for travelers. Heading into May, the majority of countries are now listed at "Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions" and more than half of the world is either Level 1 or, at worst, "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution." With so many updates taking place in such a short period of time, let's recap the most significant travel advisories that travelers may have missed this spring.

Following the country's recent reopening to foreign travelers, Australia was downgraded to a Level 1 travel advisory on April 18, with the State Department encouraging Americans to exercise normal precautions Down Under.

Thailand was also listed at Level 1 on April 18. However, officials recommend that visitors to the Asian hotspot reconsider travel to the country's Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla provinces due to civil unrest.

The Bahamas is one of the many countries around the world to be listed at Level 2 heading into the month of May. The State Department asks travelers to exercise increased caution in the islands due to potential crime.

Elsewhere in the Caribbean, the islands of Turks and Caicos are similarly listed at Level 2 due to crime. "The vast majority of crime occurs in Providenciales. Local medical care and criminal investigative capabilities are limited," the State Department notes.

The State Department is still encouraging travelers to reconsider travel to Egypt due to terrorism. Officials also ask Americans to exercise increased caution in the country due to the Embassy's "limited ability to assist dual national U.S.-Egyptian citizens who are arrested or detained." Visitors to Egypt should avoid the Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) and the Western Desert due to terrorism and steer clear of Egyptian border areas due to military zones.

Americans are advised to reconsider travel to Japan due to COVID-19-related entry restrictions as of April 18. "The U.S. Embassy strongly urges any U.S. citizens considering travel to Japan to review carefully the information available from the Government of Japan," states the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Japan.

Travelers can visit Bermuda with peace of mind this summer as it received a Level 1 travel advisory from the State Department on April 19.

Americans venturing north of the border to Canada can also exercise normal precautions right now as the State Department has lowered its warning for the North American country as of mid-April.

Greece joins the lengthy list of Level 1 countries heading into May. The State Department is no longer warning of COVID-19 or any other threats despite the CDC determining that there is still a high level of the virus present in Greece.

Travelers visiting Europe can also exercise normal precautions in Iceland as the island country was downgraded to Level 1 on April 19. The country is among the many around the world to lift COVID-related entry restrictions this year.

Elsewhere in Europe, Portugal is now at Level 1 on the State Department's four-tier scale. This now means that travelers can explore coveted places like Lisbon, Madeira and the Algarve worry-free.

After launching seamless entry protocol updates and posting its highest post-outbreak visitor month in March, Saint Lucia was downgraded to Level 1 in April.

Travelers are advised to exercise increased caution in the Central American country of Costa Rica due to crime. "While petty crime is the predominant threat for tourists in Costa Rica, violent crime, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault, occurs in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican government provides additional security resources in areas frequented by tourists," the State Department says.

The State Department changed Mexico's status to "Other" on April 20, pointing out that some areas have an increased risk of crime and kidnapping. There's good news for travelers heading to places like Cancun and Los Cabos, though, as the State Department advises only exercising increased caution in the states of Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur due to crime.

Like Mexico, the Dominican Republic has been among the most accessible overseas destinations amid the pandemic. Currently, travelers are simply advised to exercise increased caution in the country due to crime. "The development of a professional tourist police corps, institution of a 911 system in many parts of the country, and a concentration of resources in resort areas means these tend to be better policed than urban areas like Santo Domingo," the State Department reports.

As of April 20, the State Department encourages Americans to reconsider travel to Panama due to COVID-19 quarantine requirements for unvaccinated individuals who test positive and to exercise increased caution due to crime, specifically in parts of the Mosquito Gulf and Darién Region.

Despite being among the first countries to reopen to international tourists and receive the WTTC's Safe Travels stamp in 2020, Jamaica is listed at Level 3 this spring, with officials advising travelers to reconsider plans to visit the Caribbean island country due to crime. The State Department lists several areas tourists should avoid entirely, including parts of Clarendon Parish, Hanover Parish, Kingston, St. Andrew Parish, Montego Bay, St. Ann Parish, St. Catherine Parish, St. James Parish and Westmoreland Parish.

The world's most visited country prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, France joins a long list of Level 2 nations ahead of the summer. Visitors are currently advised to exercise increased caution in France due to terrorism and civil unrest.

As of April 19, Spain is also listed at Level 2 due to the threat of terrorism and civil unrest. However, the European country recently relaxed its indoor mask mandate after reporting a 92 percent vaccination rate for citizens over the age of 12.

Travelers are encouraged to exercise increased caution in South Africa due to crime and civil unrest, according to the State Department's April 19 update. "Violent crime, such as armed robbery, rape, carjacking, mugging, and 'smash-and-grab' attacks on vehicles, is common," officials warn. "There is a higher risk of violent crime in the central business districts of major cities after dark."