US State Department advises its citizens not to visit Armenia’s border regions

Bordered by Turkey to the east and Iran to the south, the nation of Armenia has seen a strong boost in tourism over the last half-decade, The Street writes.

As noted, with the largest numbers of tourists visiting from Russia and Iran, the country has recently also seen growing numbers of tourists from the United States and other Western countries.

At the same time, the U.S. State Department has updated its travel warnings for Armenia, advising against visiting border regions.

Armenia is generally considered a very safe country for tourists to visit; the U.S. State Department keeps it at the same “exercise increased caution” that it also assigns to France, Italy, and Thailand.

But at the start of September, the U.S. government also updated its guidance for Armenia to reiterate that while most of the country is at the second-lowest advisory level, some areas are at “increased risk.”

In particular, regions that border Azerbaijan have raised concerns due to a history of conflict between the two countries. American citizens in Armenia on official business of the government are not permitted to travel to the Gegharkunik region east of Vardenis, the Syunik region east of Goris, and the Syunik region south of Kapan. Those traveling in a personal capacity are simply advised to avoid them.

“Travel through Yeraskh village in Ararat region is allowed, stopping is not,” the Sept. 5 travel advisory reads.

As noted, past military action has occurred near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and there is potential for armed conflict in the area.

“Exercise caution on roads near Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan. Some parts of the road may cross international borders without warning. Checkpoints may control roads or authorities may close them to travelers without notice. The U.S. Embassy does not permit embassy employees and their families to travel to the border region, as well as other areas of Armenia listed in this travel advisory, for non-essential reasons,” the advisory reads.

Azerbaijan, which has also been seeing a spike in tourists from Western countries in recent years, is similarly ranked at level two’s “exercise increased caution” for the country as a whole and “do not travel” for the areas bordering Armenia.