Sweden's Ministry for Foreign Affairs (UD) has issued travel advisories against trips to 58 countries, including popular tourist destinations like Thailand, Egypt, and Turkey. The warnings cover war zones, conflict areas, and authoritarian states. The ministry stresses that it is the traveler's own responsibility to stay informed.
Sweden's Ministry for Foreign Affairs (UD) has advised against travel to 58 countries, including war zones like Sudan, Ukraine, and Syria, as well as authoritarian states such as Afghanistan and North Korea. Popular Swedish tourist destinations are also affected, with warnings for regions in Thailand, Egypt, and Turkey. The advisories are based on comprehensive security assessments, regardless of a destination's popularity, UD stated in an email.
"It is the general security situation and similar factors that guide decisions, not the potential consequences for Swedish travelers," the ministry wrote. A travel advisory is a recommendation, and it is ultimately the traveler's responsibility to stay updated and decide whether to proceed or cancel. "A travel advisory is a recommendation. It is therefore primarily the traveler's own responsibility to stay informed and decide if the trip should be made or the stay interrupted."
Travel companies like Ving and TUI strictly follow UD's guidance. Anna Hagberg, press spokesperson for Ving, noted the company's 24/7 preparedness. "If a sudden event occurs, we have staff on site and round-the-clock readiness," she said. Such advisories rarely impact bookings for tourist areas like Phuket in Thailand, she added.
Adam Györki, communications chief at TUI, confirmed: "We always follow UD's advice. Sometimes it applies to entire countries, sometimes just certain areas. But if an advisory comes, we stop traveling there." Regional unrest, such as in the Middle East, can indirectly reduce bookings to Egypt even if the country itself is calm.