UK Issues Travel Warning, Indonesia Included in List of Countries to Be Wary of

The number of foreign tourists who came from Labuan Bajo boarded a tourist bus upon arrival at Benoa Port, Denpasar, Bali, Friday. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - International tourists are asked to be more vigilant in planning trips to a number of world destinations, including Indonesia. The UK government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an update to the international travel warning for 2026, which includes Indonesia on the list of countries with limited travel recommendations.

Based on a report by the Express media published on Saturday (27/12) local time, British authorities assessed that tourists from their country should avoid tourist activities around active volcanic areas in Indonesia.

Some of the locations highlighted include the area around Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Nusa Tenggara, Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra, Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, Mount Semeru in East Java, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi, and Mount Ibu in North Maluku.

However, the FCDO emphasized that the warning was limited and did not apply to all areas of Indonesia. This means that the precautionary recommendation is only intended for certain areas that are considered to have potential risks.

Apart from the location factor, the British government also reminds of the importance of the aspect of general travel safety. Before booking a vacation, tourists are advised to ensure three main things, namely that the passport is still valid, travel insurance covers all risks, and the travel destination is in accordance with the official safety recommendations of the British government.

The FCDO also reminds that traveling to areas on the warning list can have serious consequences, including the cancellation of travel insurance protection and the limited assistance that the British government can provide in the event of an emergency abroad.

The list of travel warnings previously included more than 70 countries and territories. However, by December 2025, the number was reduced after an evaluation and review by the relevant authorities.

In general, the FCDO travel warning is often imposed on border areas, conflict areas, crime-prone areas, or areas affected by natural disasters and security instability.

A number of factors can cause a country or region to be included in the travel ban list, ranging from armed conflict, terrorism threats, civil unrest, natural disasters, to increased risks of detention for foreign nationals.

The other countries and territories included in the FCDO travel alert list include several categories, ranging from a total travel ban, travel restrictions except for essential purposes, to a ban on certain areas within a country.

The countries advised not to visit at all include Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Iran, Mali, Niger, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Countries advised to be avoided except for essential travel, such as North Korea.

Meanwhile, the countries recommended to be avoided in some parts include dozens of countries, including Indonesia in active volcanic areas such as Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, Sinabung, Marapi, Semeru, Ruang, and Ibu.

In addition to Indonesia, restricted areas are also imposed in a number of other countries such as India, Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Ukraine, with details of border zones, conflict areas, and security-prone areas.

The FCDO also lists countries with travel restrictions except for essential interests in certain regions, such as Angola, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

The British government urges its citizens to always update travel information through official channels before departure, in order to minimize safety risks while abroad.