Travel Advisories

What Are Travel Advisories?

Travel advisories are government warnings against nonessential travel to other countries.  If, for example, Country XYZ suddenly had a massive breakout of influenza, your government might issue a general warning against tourism and travel to Country XYZ.  This warning would likely stay in place until Country XYZ had successfully rectified the situation.   

A travel advisory is basically a “tourist beware” sign. 

What Types of Situations Result in Travel Advisories?

Your government can issue a travel advisory for a wide range of reasons.  Below are some of the most common situations that result in government-issued travel advisories: 

• Disease outbreaks
• Political instability
• Worsening diplomatic relations
• Natural disasters
• Military conflicts
• Terrorist outbreaks

Travel Advisories Constantly Change

Travel advisories are not necessarily permanent.  Your government might strongly recommend against visiting Country XYZ one day but revise its travel advisory the next day.  The reverse is also true.  Country XYZ might be safe one day and become unsafe the next.  You should check your government’s travel advisory list periodically throughout the planning stages of your medical vacation. 

Where Can I Find Travel Advisories?

You can find travel advisories in any number of places, but embassies, consular departments, and your government’s department of state (or similar agency) will likely provide the most thorough and up-to-date travel advisories.  We are quite partial to the United States’ Department of State Web site, and we recommend using this resource in addition to whatever other resources are available to you in your home country.  The US Department of State updates its travel advisories quite frequently, and it provides a fairly useful snapshot of each individual country.  You might also consider using the CIA’s Factbook to help you research the relative safety of potential medical tourism destinations.