Travel Advisory from the U.S. State Department

On May 7, the U.S. Department of State has 21 countries The list includes Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also includes Iran, Iraq Lebanon Libya Mali Myanmar North Korea Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Ukraine Venezuela Yemen. Afghanistan, Belarus and Burkina Faso are all on the list. Also included are Haiti, Iran, Iraq Lebanon, Libya Mali, Myanmar North Korea Russia Somalia South Sudan Sudan Syria Ukraine Venezuela Yemen. North Korea and Burkina Faso have recently been added to the list due to concerns about wrongful arrests and terrorist activities.

But how, exactly, does this list get made in the first place—and what should travelers really take away from it?

There are four main levels of the advisory system.

Since 1978, the Department of State has published travel advisories. National Geographic reports. Originally designed to keep airlines and travel companies in the loop, the program has evolved into a traveler-focused tool. The system has been redesigned in 2018 to allow travelers to easily search for advisories by country. the Department of State’s website.

Carrie Pasquarello is a safety strategist, CEO of Global Secure Resources Inc.Explained Travel + LeisureFour levels of advice are provided to help assess the risk. “The first is to ‘exercise regular precautions’, Level 2 means ‘exercise greater caution’, Level 3 is the’reconsider travelling’, and Level 4 is a’reconsider’. [means] ‘do not travel,'” Pasquarello said. The State Department uses nine indicators to determine the level of advice that a country will receive. 

This includes everything from crime rates and terrorism, to natural disasters and incidents of wrongful arrest. The countries that receive a level 1 or 2 rating are evaluated annually. Level 3 and Level 4 are assessed every six months. Pasquarello said that understanding the risks is crucial to travelers deciding whether a destination is worth visiting.

It is important to note that the way advisories are calculated can be nuanced. 

Experts say that while travel advisories may be widely respected, it is important to understand their context. Tom Abraham is the co-founder of travel planning website World Travel Index. noted that “often they are more diplomatic, political or logistical restrictions in disguise than actual conditions on the ground for travelers.”

This is why some countries are classified as Level 3 or Level 4. They have subtler regional differences. John Rose, Chief Risk Advisor at Altour A business travel management firm said. “Some areas are marked as ‘Do Not Travel,’ while others, such as popular tourist regions, are classified as ‘Exercise Normal Precautions.'”

The fourth level is not a travel ban but a warning. 

It doesn’t matter if a country is rated Level 3 or Level 4 – it does not mean that the country is completely off limits. Gene Petrino is co-owner of a security consulting firm. He says that the U.S. State Department travel advisory system “is a tool for risk communication, not a mandatory mandate.” Survival Response LLCT+L reported. “They’re not tailored for individual circumstances. They are generalized assessments.”

Even so, Level 4 advisories should cause travelers to pause. Paul Stewart of My Baggage said that Level 4 alerts should cause travelers to pause. “Those aren’t taken lightly and often mean very serious security concerns.” 

Pasquarello also said that she has a “tripwire”, which is a factor in deciding whether to go somewhere, if needed. It’s the possibility of being medically evacuated. “Medical evacuation memberships can be excluded from the evacuation of some destinations at Level 4 or Level 3,” said Pasquarello. This means that if you’re injured in an area with a Level 3 warning, you might be on your lonesome. 

The Level 4 (Do No Travel) advice should be taken seriously. Petrino stated that it usually indicates extreme risk because of war, widespread criminality, government instability, and/or a high likelihood for kidnappings or terrorism.

What about Level 3 then? Petrino stated that it doesn’t necessarily mean to cancel, but rather, travelers must conduct serious case-specific planning.

Be sure to do some homework in addition to reading the advisory.

These experts all agreed that travel advisories issued by the government should only be used as a guide to help you decide whether or not a particular destination is worth visiting.

Stewart also recommended registering for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program Real-time Alerts 

For Petrino, it’s also worth it to dive into a destination’s advisories before deciding to book—or not book—that upcoming trip.

Petrino stated that “security is multilayered.” Most risks can be managed with the right attitude and preparation. Travel advisories only provide one part of the puzzle. Trust your gut instincts. If you feel something is off, it most likely is.