Foreign Office extends ‘do not travel’ list as UK tourists warned to avoid ‘exclusion zone’

UK tourists have been told not to travel to parts of Indonesia as a new ‘exclusion zone’ is in place. The British Foreign Office extended its ‘do not travel’ list in a travel update issued to holidaymakers on Wednesday, November 6.

The Foreign Office already advised against all travel to several areas of Indonesia due to safety concerns. These include all areas within 5km of the Mount Sinabung crater in Karo Regency, North Sumatra.

Tourists have also been told not to visit areas within 3km of the crater of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra, or within 5km of the crater of Mount Semeru in Lumajang Regency, East Java. Travellers should also avoid the south-east area of Mount Semeru along the Besuk Kobokan river, which is approximately 13km from the crater, and 500m from any Besuk Kobokan riverbank.

Read more: UK tourists booking package holidays face new £30 fee ‘to cover their fair share’

An exclusion zone also remains in place near Mount Ruang in Northern Sulawesi, which erupted on April 16 this year. The Foreign Office has told UK tourists not to travel within 7km of the crater.

Areas within 7km of the crater of Mount Ibu have also been listed as no-go zones. The mountain in North Maluki Province erupted on June 6.

In its latest travel update, the Foreign Office added the areas surrounding Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Nusa Tenggara to its ‘no travel’ list. The warning reads: “ FCDO advises against all travel to within 7km of the crater of Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province.

“This is an exclusion zone put in place by the local authorities. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted on November 3, 2024.”

The Foreign Office advises against travel to certain areas to help them make decisions when travelling abroad. Every year, the government helps tens of thousands of British citizens who have got into difficulty abroad, but says that many of these situations could have been avoided.

Warnings against ‘all travel’ may be issued in response to increased risk of terrorism or when officials deem UK tourists are in ‘extreme or imminent danger’. Though the Foreign Office does not enforce its travel advice, ignoring the advice could mean that a person’s travel insurance is invalidated.