The Key Travel Advisories Announced in December

Two months after an October that saw the U.S. State Department reissue updated travel advisories for nearly every country in the world, December and the holiday season marked a more quiet period in terms of fresh advisories, with officials publishing just nine over the course of the month. The State Department kicked off the month by publishing a pair of Level 4: Do Not Travel advisories for Haiti and Somalia, two places that remain a non-starter for most travelers anyway. Updates continued throughout the month, however, due to civil unrest in Peru and COVID-19 outbreaks in China.

Read on for the latest details regarding the most significant travel advisories issued over the last month.

The State Department reissued a Level 2 travel advisory for Kenya on December 9, encouraging travelers to exercise increased caution in the African country due to the threat of crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping. Visitors should not travel to Kenya-Somalia border counties and some coastal areas due to terrorism and kidnapping and should also avoid areas of Turkana County due to crime, officials advise.

What's more, travelers are asked to reconsider travel to the Nairobi neighborhoods of Eastleigh and Kibera due to crime and kidnapping as well as certain areas of Laikipia County due to criminal incursions and security operations. "Reconsider travel through Nyahururu, Laikipia West, and Laikipia North Sub-counties," the State Department recommends.

Elsewhere in Africa, travelers are being asked to exercise increased caution in Madagascar due to crime and civil unrest. Visitors should also reconsider travel to several parts of the island country due to violent crime and banditry. These places include in and around the city of Tsaratanana in the Betsiboka Region; the area along the unnamed road connecting the city of Tsiroanomandidy in the Bongolava Region with the coastal city of Maintirano in the Melaky Region and the area in and around the city of Betroka in the Anosy Region.

A wave of civil unrest saw U.S. tourists trapped in Peru earlier this month and the State Department issued a Level 3 advisory for the South American country in response on December 22. Americans are advised to reconsider travel to Peru due to crime and exercise increased caution if they do decide to visit due to the ongoing civil unrest. Specific places to avoid include the Colombian-Peruvian border area in the Loreto Region due to crime and the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), including areas within the Departments of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica and Junin due to crime and terrorism.

As of December 23, Americans are encouraged to reconsider travel to China, including Hong Kong and Macau due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, virus-related travel restrictions and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. The State Department also warns of the potential for wrongful detentions in China.

The remote African island country of Cabo Verde received a Level 1 designation from the State Department this December, with officials encouraging visitors to exercise normal precautions upon arrival. However, travelers should exercise increased caution in the capital city of Praia due to the potential for crime.