‘Untapped gem’: Australia eases travel advisory for India's northeast state of Assam after 20 years

India's northeastern state of Assam is now deemed safe for travel, except for four districts, bringing it in line with major destinations like Delhi and Mumbai. In a significant travel update, Australia has recently eased its advisory for travellers visiting the state.

The Australian government, on 18 February, revised its travel advisory for Assam, reducing the risk level from ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ to ‘Exercise a high degree of caution’ (Level 2 of 4).

This latest update comes after a revised assessment of the safety and security situation.

Previously, the travel advisory for the state had been 'Reconsider your need to travel' since 2005.

"We've lowered the level of advice for some parts of Assam," the Smarttraveller website said.

Assamese people (Representative image) Credit: IndiaPix/IndiaPicture/Getty Images/IndiaPicture RF

However, it advised against travelling to four districts in Assam — Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, and Sivasagar — citing a "high risk of violence", as well as other areas, including the Attari-Wagah border crossing and parts of Chhattisgarh.

According to the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs, the four districts in the state are deemed as 'disturbed areas' and have been put under the

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

General travel advice for visiting India remained the same, with the government urging travellers to 'exercise a high degree of caution'.

Tourists in India. (Representative image) Source: Moment RF / Tashdique Mehtaj Ahmed/Getty Images

"We've reviewed our advice for India and continue to advise exercising a high degree of caution. Higher levels apply in some areas," the

Smarttraveller

website said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) continuously reviews travel advisories, carefully assessing risks to Australians abroad and providing the latest updates.

The reaction

The news has been welcomed by Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who thanked the Australian High Commissioner, Philip Green.

The announcement came just days before the Advantage Assam 2.0 — Investment and Infrastructure Summit 2025, an investors' summit in Guwahati, one of the largest cities of the state.

Deepak Raj Gupta, Chair of the Australia India Business Council (AIBC), acknowledged the recent travel advisory updates.

Deepak Raj Gupta, Chair of the Australia India Business Council. Credit: Supplied by Deepak Raj Gupta

"India remains a dynamic global powerhouse with strong trade, investment, tourism, and cultural ties with Australia. Millions of Australians travel to India safely each year, benefiting from its enhanced security and infrastructure," Gupta said.

He further said that AIBC encouraged travellers and businesses to consult official sources and explore the extensive opportunities India offered as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

"We respect DFAT’s role in ensuring Australian traveller safety and encourage informed decision-making," he said.

Dr Sidharth Sarma, a Gold Coast-based medical practitioner originally from Assam, welcomed the decision, stating that it would create new opportunities for the state in tourism and business.

Dr Sid Sarma is a Gold Coast-based GP, who is originally from Assam, northeast India. Credit: Supplied by Dr Sid Sarma

"This change was long overdue. Assam is an untapped gem, both for those looking to explore India's beauty and for investors seeking business opportunities," Dr Sarma said.

"The (then) Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Assam’s Kaziranga National Park in 2016, highlighting its safety for travellers even then."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge decorate an elephant parade statue during a visit to the Mark Shand Foundation at Kaziranga National Park in Assam in 2016. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA/Alamy/AAP

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Assam's Kaziranga Park is home to approximately 2,400 one-horned rhinos, making up a significant portion of the global population of 3,300.

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