Incredibly, the site has not been designated a National Park or area of special scientific interest, yet this is under consideration at the moment. However, tensions between Ethiopia and nearby Eritrea together with local banditry mean that the site is only visited by a few hundred people each year. The age of adventure tourism has yet to really hit Dallol. Those who do visit still run the risk of being taken hostage in Ahmed Ela, the nearest village to the volcano.