Travel Warnings....Or Travel Alerts...Which Is It?!!!

For several years now, the State Department has had a system of indicating which countries were unsafe, and for consumers, travel agents, and most airline personnel, it was a confusing and mostly unclear system. What was the difference between a “travel warning” and a “travel alert”? Is a travel warning mean you can go but be careful, and a travel alert means you can travel there? Or is there any difference at all?

Recently the State Department revealed a new, and according to them, a more understandable system. Under the new system, every country in the world has a travel advisory ranking from 1 (“exercise normal precautions”) to 4 (“do not travel”). On their website they also have an interactive map that color-codes each country by its ranking; red for 4, orange for 3, yellow for 2. Countries with a level 1 ranking such as Canada, Sweden and Mongolia are not color-coded.

An article by Johanna Jainchill in the latest issue of Travel Weekly indicated that popular destinations for U. S. travelers such as Mexico, France, and the United Kingdom register a 2 which means “exercise increased caution”, while countries including Cuba, Turkey, and Russia have been given level 3 which means “reconsider travel”. Eleven countries have earned the 4 ranking which means “don't even think about it”, such as North Korea, Iran, Libya, and Syria. That shouldn't bother folks here in the Big Country. In my 42 years in the business, I haven't ever booked anyone to any of those “4” ranked countries.

On the State Department site, the risks and threats of traveling in countries deemed level 2 or above are further detailed. For example, terrorism determines the number for Western European countries while crime is the determinator in many Central and South American countries.

Of course, even though Mexico has a ranking of 2, there are several areas of Mexico that show “no advisory is in effect”. Places where we suggest folks go, to the all-inclusive resorts along the Mayan Riviera, are currently colored green (go). Interestingly there was no advisory in effect for Mexico City. The new system uses the four-point advisory ratings for regions within countries to help travelers understand that certain areas within an otherwise risky country for travel are actually quite safe. One person who analyzed the new system indicated that the new system should help travelers make better destination decisions because it is easier to understand at a glance.

The new system was introduced by Secretary of State Tillerson on January 10, 2018. You can go to the following site and read his announcement:

www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2018/01/276945.htm or you can find this address on our website under the “About” heading and the drop-down ladder subject “blog” at www.thetravelfactoryabilene.com

One thing you can be sure of, when you are purchasing a tour package to any country, the experienced travel counselors at The Travel Factory will sell you that tour package with your safety in mind, and will certainly advise you of any danger of which we might be aware. We welcome your questions and are interested in helping you develop the vacation of your dreams, so please give us a call at 698-1421 or toll-free 800-760-4040, or drop in for a friendly visit at 4150 Southwest Drive at the Plaza at Park Central. You can walk right out of Rosa's or Chick-Fil-A and we are just next door to both of those eating places. We'll leave you today encouraging you to travel safe.