:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/TAL-Baliem-valley-papua-pegunungan-indonesia-INDONSAADVSRY0525-fa8162d704d8459ebf9aeef5689c4d96.jpg)
- ‘The United States government issued a travel advisory for those going to Indonesia.
- The Level 2 alert is for the entire country, and there is a Level 4 alert for certain regions.
- Travelers can subscribe to personalized alerts to countries they are visiting.
Travelers need to take extra caution before traveling to a popular Asian country famous for its beaches, according to a new government alert.
The U.S. State Department recently issued a Level 2 advisory for Indonesia, which is the level of “exercise increased caution.” The agency cites “terrorism and natural disasters” as reasons for the advisory.
“Terrorists continue plotting possible attacks in Indonesia,” the advisory states. “Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting police stations, places of worship, hotels, bars, nightclubs, markets/shopping malls, and restaurants.”
The advisory also has a Level 4 alert for Central Papua and Highland Papua due to ongoing protests and demonstrations, and potential kidnapping of foreigners, according to the State Department. “Due to the risks, the U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Central Papua and Highland Papua because U.S. government employees working in Indonesia must obtain special authorization before traveling to those areas,” the advisory warns.
Travelers with plans to visit Indonesia are encouraged to travel with caution, and monitor the Department of State for any changes. The scale is Level 1 through Level 4, and only the Central Papua and Highland Papua are in the highest level.
What do the advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State mean?
The U.S. travel advisory tiers, issued by the Department of State, has four levels:
Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions)
Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution)
Level 3 (Reconsider Travel)
Level 4 (Do Not Travel)
The United States isn’t the only country that has a travel advisory for Indonesia. Canada issued a “exercise a high degree of caution” advisory on April 22, and also cited potential unrest and social tensions as reasons for the alert. Canada also encouraged its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Papua region as well.
For anyone planning an upcoming international trip, they can view safety information about the country they are visiting on the Department of State’s website. The agency also offers a free service called the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, which provides timely alerts and information for travelers, and also registers their visit so travelers can be contacted in an emergency.
