Travel alert: Do not go to border of this Southeast Asian nation for any reason, U.S. warns
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Travel alert: Do not go to border of this Southeast Asian nation for any reason, U.S. warns
The U.S. State Department upgraded its travel advisory to Thailand from its lowest level to its second-highest level. The agency gave a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” travel advisory due to “civil unrest” in the “Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces” Travelers are strongly advised to have travel insurance and “have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.s. government assistance.” The advisory also states that people should not travel to the Cambodian-Thai border due to “ongoing fighting” between the Thai and Cambodian military forces. The State Department said there was a ceasefire announced between the two countries, but the travel advisory has not been downgraded to date.
If you’re thinking of traveling to Thailand anytime soon, there are certain parts of the country where you should avoid traveling to for the foreseeable future.
The U.S. State Department upgraded its travel advisory to Thailand from its lowest level to its second-highest level, warning Americans to “exercise increased caution” due to unrest, and updated the advisory to “do not travel” to the Cambodian-Thai border due to “armed conflict.”
Here is what you need to know about the travel advisory and what do if you plan on traveling to Thailand.
What does the latest travel advisory to Thailand mean to you?
Item Detail Start Date July 25, 2025 What’s changing? Upgraded travel advisory warning from Level 1: Exercise normal precautions to Level 2: Exercise increased caution due to unrest. Also warns travelers not to travel to certain parts of Thailand, including the Thai-Cambodian border due to “armed conflict.” What will happen? Travelers are strongly advised to have travel insurance and “have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.” Who will it affect? Travelers to Thailand.
The agency gave a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” travel advisory to Thailand due to “civil unrest” in the “Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces.”
The advisory also states that people should not travel to the Cambodian-Thai border due to “ongoing fighting” between the Thai and Cambodian military forces.
According to the State Department, there was a ceasefire announced between the two countries, but the travel advisory has not been downgraded to date.
What is the highest travel advisory?
There are four levels of travel advisory, Level 1 through Level 4.
When planning a vacation, you should check the current travel advisory for that destination. So, which level is the most concerning?
Level 1 : Exercise Normal Precautions – This is the lowest level of advisory; it is advised that there is some risk in that area, and travelers should take precautions while on their visit.
Level 2 : Exercise Increased Caution – There is a heightened risk for safety and security in that area, and travelers need to take extra caution.
Level 3 : Reconsider Travel – There are serious risks to safety, and travelers are advised to reconsider their travel plans to this destination.
Level 4: Do Not Travel – This is the highest level of advisory, and it is strongly recommended not to travel to any destinations with a Level 4 advisory, due to many factors, one of which is that the U.S. government might not be able to provide travelers any assistance in the event of an emergency.
What should travelers to Thailand do in light of this travel advisory?
Travelers who do decide to go to Thailand should heed the following instructions for their safety:
Buy travel insurance
Make plans to evacuate without the assistance of U.S. government officials
You can find more details about the travel advisory and how to remain safe while traveling here.
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Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.