US State Department issues Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for 21 countries; know why

The U.S. State Department has issued an updated travel advisory, warning Americans against visiting 21 countries due to elevated risks such as armed conflict, terrorism, and civil unrest. These countries have been categorized under the highest advisory level, Level 4: "Do Not Travel."
The list includes nations grappling with serious security threats, ranging from ongoing wars and terrorism to political instability. The countries currently under the State Department’s Level 4 advisory are:
Afghanistan
Belarus
Burkina Faso
Burma (Myanmar)
Central African Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Lebanon
Libya
Mali
North Korea
Russia
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Syria
Ukraine
Venezuela
Yemen
While the State Department's warning comes amid a broader landscape of global travel concerns, the U.S. travel industry itself has seen a slight uptick. A report from the U.S. Travel Association, published in March, revealed a 0.8% increase in travel spending. This rise suggests that the appetite for travel remains strong, despite a decline in consumer confidence in the economy. The association further reported that a record number of people are planning trips in the next six months, indicating continued enthusiasm for travel, according to Fox 4 News.
However, the trend isn't entirely positive for all aspects of the travel sector. While Americans continue to travel domestically and internationally, the number of foreign visitors coming to the U.S. has seen a decline. International arrivals from January to March 2025 dropped by 3.3% compared to the same period in 2024. Tourism Economics, a leading research firm, has revised its 2025 forecast, now projecting a 9.4% decline in foreign visitors. This revision marks a slight increase in the anticipated drop, up from an earlier projection of nearly 9% growth.

Experts suggest several factors contributing to the decline in foreign tourism, including growing concerns over border detentions, rhetoric from the Trump administration, and rising tariffs. These issues, combined with global economic uncertainty, may be dissuading international visitors from coming to the U.S.
For those planning travel, the U.S. State Department advises consulting its official website for the latest updates and guidance on safe travel. Travelers are urged to stay informed about the current security conditions in their destinations.