Avoid high-risk areas: Avoid areas with ongoing conflicts or high levels of violence and terrorist attacks. This includes Northern Syria near the borders with Turkey, North East Syria near the borders with Iraq, and East Syria near Lebanon. Also avoid the cities of Idlib, Raqqah, and Rojava.
According to Syrian Minister of Tourism Rami Martini, Syria has seen an uptick in visitor numbers in the first three months of 2023, with 385,000 arrivals so far. Of these, 345,000 are from Arab countries, while 40,000 are foreigners.
Local conflicts in the Middle East have long made Yemen, Syria and Sudan no-fly zones for most airlines. US and UK operators avoid Iranian airspace, pushing long-distance traffic toward the west, over Iraq.
Since the uprisings began in March 2011, the U.S. Government has intensely pursued calibrated sanctions to deprive the regime of the resources it needs to continue violence against civilians and to pressure the Syrian regime to end the conflict through a political transition.
Should you travel to Egypt right now? Trips throughout primary tourist regions of Egypt are continuing to operate as usual. The country's alert level from the State Department also hasn't changed since July 13, and remains at a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel.”
In early 2023, reports indicated that the forces of ISIS in Syria had mostly been defeated, with only a few cells remaining in various remote locations. As of 2023, Turkey was continuing its support for various militias within Syria, which periodically attempted some operations against Kurdish groups.