EU eases travel advisory for most of Assam, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the European Union has withdrawn or relaxed its travel advisory for most parts of the state, a change that could help improve travel confidence and Assam's international image.

Reports published on June 20 said the revised guidance still keeps caution in place for three Assam districts that are under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA. The reports did not all use the same wording, with some saying the advisory was “withdrawn” and others saying it was “relaxed” or “updated.”

The development came amid Sarma's wider push for foreign governments to revise similar warnings on Assam. One report said discussions were also under way with the United States and Canada over their travel guidance.

What changed

Times of India reported that EU member states revised their advisories for Assam, while keeping caution for the three AFSPA districts. The Economic Times separately reported that Sarma said the EU had withdrawn its long-standing travel advisory on most parts of Assam.

The reports indicate that the change applies to most of the state, but not all of it. The remaining caution is tied to the security situation in the districts where AFSPA still applies.

Why it matters

Foreign travel advisories can shape how tourists, businesses and international visitors view a destination. For Assam, any easing of caution from European countries could support the state government's efforts to promote tourism and improve its reputation abroad.

Sarma has been presenting the change as part of a broader diplomatic effort to get other countries to remove or soften similar warnings.

What is still unclear

No official EU advisory page was found in the reports reviewed, so the change is being reported through Sarma's announcement and subsequent media coverage rather than a direct EU statement.

It was also not clear from the available reports which three districts remain under caution or whether the revised guidance came from the EU as a bloc or from individual member-state advisories.