The Foreign Office has named 24 countries as being 'unsafe' for tourists to visit at the moment due to potentially 'volatile' and 'unpredictable' conditions.

With summer holiday season now upon us, many people will be planning to jet off somewhere warm and sunny for a well-earned break from work. However, certain regions may be best avoided - some which are more predictable than others.

The government body's 'banned' list includes destinations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, so it's worth familiarising yourself with where is safe for tourists to visit and where to steer clear from.

Birmingham Live reports that the Foreign Office is currently advising against travel, or all but essential travel, to 24 destinations on the 'black list'. These destinations are: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, and Niger.

Other nations listed include North Korea, Palestinian territories, Russia, Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Moscow
Tourists are being urged to avoid visiting Russia

The reasons for avoiding these countries vary from place to place. For example, for Afghanistan, the Foreign Office warned that "the security situation is volatile" and travel through the country is extremely dangerous. British nationals also are at "heightened risk of being detained" in Afghanistan.

The UK Foreign Office also advises against all travel to Russia due to its continued invasion of Ukraine, describing situation as "unpredictable".

Holidaymakers should always check travel advice before heading off anywhere, as there's a chance your insurance could become invalidated if you go against Foreign Office guidance and it could be harder to get help.

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Meanwhile, tourists and locals in Paris have been placed under alert after an 'Ebola-like virus' was detected in the popular city break spot. Lassa disease, which is currently running rampant in Nigeria, was found to have infected a soldier in Paris after they returned from abroad.

Local health officials said an "in-depth epidemiological investigation is being carried out to determine the persons who may have been in contact with him", but luckily his current condition doesn't give "cause for concern".

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