US Issues Updated Travel Advisory for Venezuela

The U.S. State Department lowered its travel advisory for Venezuela on Thursday, removing its "Do Not Travel" guidance for visitors to the South American country.

Americans are now encouraged to reconsider travel to Venezuela due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism and poor health infrastructure.

The March 19 update, which takes the country from a Level 4 (the highest) to Level 3, notes that some areas have increased risk and advises travelers to avoid a handful of dangerous areas, including:

• Venezuela-Colombia border region (20 miles from the border), due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, and terrorism
• Amazonas state, due to the risk of terrorism
• Apure state, due to risk of terrorism
• Aragua state, outside of Maracay, due to the risk of crime and kidnapping
• Bolivar state rural areas, due to the risk of crime and kidnapping
• Guarico state, due to the risk of crime and kidnapping
• Tachira state, due to the risk of crime and terrorism

The decreased travel advisory comes just two weeks after the U.S. Department of Transportation announced approval for flights to operate between Miami and Caracas and Maracaibo in Venezuela.

American Airlines will be the first U.S. airline to fly nonstop to Venezuela in seven years. All of this comes on the heels of a U.S. military operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro back in January that sparked travel disruptions throughout the Caribbean and South America.

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