The American Society of Travel Advisors has issued guidance to its members advising them to closely monitor rapidly evolving conditions in the Middle East following escalating regional conflict and updated U.S. Department of State travel warnings affecting dozens of destinations.
The State Department has issued advisories urging U.S. citizens to exercise caution when traveling worldwide, with the highest-level warnings — Level 4 “Do Not Travel” — currently in effect for Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria due to risks including terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Elevated advisories have also been issued for Jordan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
The conflict has triggered significant disruption to commercial air travel throughout the region. Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways — as well as major U.S. and international carriers — have suspended or canceled flights to regional hubs including Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Doha. Cruise lines and tour operators serving the region are also reporting cancellations, delays, and itinerary changes.
ASTA is reminding advisors of their legal and professional duty to disclose material information that could affect a client’s travel decisions. The trade group is directing advisors to refer clients to objective, third-party sources — including State Department travel advisories — while stopping short of making direct recommendations about whether or not a client should travel.
Travelers with existing bookings should be prepared for potential delays, rerouting, or itinerary changes, and are advised to follow guidance from local authorities and U.S. embassies on the ground.
On the insurance front, ASTA is warning advisors that most standard travel insurance policies exclude coverage for losses related to war, military conflict, or related disruptions. The organization is encouraging advisors to counsel clients to carefully review their policies and consider flexible booking options or “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage when traveling to or through unstable regions.
ASTA is also urging advisors to recommend that clients enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service that delivers security alerts to registered travelers and enables U.S. embassies to make contact in the event of an emergency.
ASTA said it will continue to monitor developments and issue updated guidance as conditions evolve. Advisors can visit the State Department’s official travel advisory page at travel.state.gov for the most current destination-specific information.
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