Kazakhstan outranks Western Europe in US travel safety advisories

The U.S. Department of State updated its global travel advisory map, placing Kazakhstan and most Central Asian nations in the lowest-risk category. According to the updated assessment, this region is safer than many major tourist destinations in Western Europe.

Level 1 vs. Level 2

Kazakhstan — along with Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan — has been assigned Level 1 with a recommendation to «exercise normal precautions.» This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risks and requires only standard, common-sense precautions from travelers. Other countries in this category include Canada and Japan.

Meanwhile, major Western European nations — such as France, Germany, the U.K., Italy and Spain — have been assigned Level 2 with a recommendation to «exercise increased caution.» The State Department advises U.S. travelers to exercise heightened vigilance due to risks such as potential terrorist attacks, strikes and street crime in large European cities.

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Tajikistan is the only exception in Central Asia, as it remains at a higher risk level according to the U.S. State Department’s assessment.

The International Travel Advisory map is not a universal global ranking and reflects safety assessments specifically for U.S. citizens.