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Travel Warnings Issued For This US State A Popular Destination For North Carolinians, Here’s Why

Are you one of the thousands of North Carolinians planning on visiting Florida this summer? From theme parks to endless beaches Florida is one of the most popular vacation destinations…

Car being packed with luggage, travel warnings issued for this US State
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Are you one of the thousands of North Carolinians planning on visiting Florida this summer? From theme parks to endless beaches Florida is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. But Fodors reports that travel warnings have been issued for the US state of Florida. Typically you think of travel warnings for dangerous countries such as Russia, China, and places in the Middle East. And while those types of warnings are issued by the US Government, the ones we are referring to are issued by advocacy groups. Warnings have recently been issued by the NAACP, LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Florida, and The Florida Immigration Coalition.

The Travel Warnings

These travel warnings are related to the actions of Florida Governor and projected presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. The statement released by the NAACP states,  "Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color."

Equality Florida said in a press release, "In response to a wave of safety inquiries Equality Florida has received following the passage of laws that are hostile to the LGBTQ community, restrict access to reproductive health care, repeal gun safety laws, foment racial prejudice, and attack public education by banning books and censoring curriculum."

And finally, the Florida Immigration Coalition said “Travel to all areas of Florida should be done with extreme caution as it can be unsafe for people of color, individuals who speak with an accent, and international travelers. Due to unconstitutional legislation supported by Governor Ron DeSantis and introduced by Legislative Leadership, every county in Florida poses a heightened risk of harassment, possible detainment, and potential family separation based on racial profiling.”

Your Choice

It's obviously every individual's choice to spend their money wherever they want and where they feel safe. So if you would prefer to not visit Florida that is certainly fine. I do feel that the "travel advisory" phrase is a bit of a scare tactic. While politically many people may be opposed to the Florida governor and certain policies, I don't feel that visiting Florida puts anyone in imminent danger. Florida certainly is lightyears safer for visitors than the countries on the do not travel list.  Obviously, if you do feel that way I'm not discounting your feelings. I was in Florida about two months ago at Disney World and plan to visit St. Petersburg this summer as well. Will these warnings impact your summer vacation? Do you think it's appropriate to have travel warnings for a US state?

Do Not Travel: The United States Has Issued Travel Warnings For These 20+ Dangerous Countries In 2023

Looking to book a trip? Considering international travel? Seeing the world and other cultures can be a wonderous thing. But that doesn't mean that every destination is the safest place to travel, especially at a specific time. The United States government wants to make sure all citizens are safe when traveling. One way they do this is by issuing travel advisories. These are ever-changing as conditions can change rapidly. The Department of States issues a Travel Advisory for each country in the world. These can be checked anytime at travel.state.gov. There have been numerous updates to the United States travel warnings since 2023 began.

But before we tell you about those let's delve a little more into what these mean. There are four levels (one through four). One being "exercise normal precautions" and four being "do not travel".  Below you will find a list of all the level 3 and 4 countries that have been updated since 2023 began and their corresponding risk indicators. You can also view the ones that were previously updated. Want more info about a certain country or want to see the level for a country not mentioned? You can get all the current info on United States travel warnings here.

Also, note that Isreal and Mexico are not mentioned on this list and are categorized as "Level Other" with the advice being to avoid both places.

Level Four Travel Advisories (According to The US Department of State)

What This Means

Level 4 – Do Not Travel: This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. During an emergency, the U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance. The Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.   

Burma (Myanmar)

Date Updated: February 27, 2023

Risk Indicators: Civil Unrest, Health, Wrongful Detention, Other

Russia

Date Updated: February 13, 2023

Risk Indicators: Terrorism, Civil Unrest, Kidnapping or Hostage Taking, Wrongful Detention, Other

Iran

Date Updated: January 26, 2023

Risk Indicators: Civil Unrest, Kidnapping or Hostage Taking, Wrongful Detention, Other

Mali

Date Updated: January 18, 2023

Risk Indicators: Crime, Terrorism, Kidnapping or Hostage Taking

Venezuela

Date Updated: January 12, 2023

Risk Indicators: Crime, Terrorism, Civil Unrest, Health, Kidnapping or Hostage Taking, Wrongful Detention, Other

Iraq

Date Updated: January 3, 2023

Risk Indicators: Terrorism, Civil Unrest, Kidnapping or Hostage Taking, Other

Other Level 4 Countries Added Pre-2023

    Level Three Travel Advisories (According to The US Department of State)

    What this means:

    Reconsider Travel: Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time. 

    China

    Date Updated: March 10, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Health, Wrongful Detentions, Other

    Ethiopia

    Date Updated: March 9, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Crime, Terrorism, Civil Unrest, Kidnapping or Hostage Taking, Other

    El Salvador

    Date Updated: March 6, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Crime

    Honduras

    Date Updated: March 1, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Crime, Kidnapping and Hostage Taking

    Guatemala

    Date Updated: March 1, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Crime

    Burundi

    Date Updated: February 13, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Crime, Health, Other

    Pakistan

    Date Updated: February 8, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Terrorism, Kidnapping or Hostage Taking, Other

    Lebanon

    Date Updated: February 1, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Crime, Terrorism, Civil Unrest, Kidnapping or Hostage Taking, Other

    Nigeria

    Date Updated: February 1, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Crime, Terrorism, Civil Unrest, Kidnapping or Hostage Taking, Other

    Uganda

    Date Updated: January 18, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Crime, Terrorism

    Colombia

    Date Updated: January 4, 2023

    Risk Indicators: Crime, Terrorism, Civil Unrest, Kidnapping or Hostage Taking

    Other Level 4 Countries Added Pre-2023

      Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.