Overhaul of Outdated and Confusing Travel Warning System.

The United Kingdom, Colombia and the Antarctic all receive the same warning level.

The US State Department has unveiled a new travel advisory system that alerts and advises travelers on potential dangerous destinations. The earlier system which included both travel warnings and travel alerts caused some confusion among users. The revamped system is intended to bring more clarity to the travel warnings, and to be more user-friendly.

Now the ranking system works on four warning levels.

Level 2 means “exercise increased caution”.  The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Colombia and the Antarctic are examples of level 2 countries. The Western European countries are a result of increased threat from terrorism.

Level 3 is described by the state department as “Reconsider travel,” Russia, Turkey, and Venezuela are among the Level 3 countries.

Level 4 is for countries to which the U.S government discourage all travel with a “Do no travel” warning. There are eleven countries in total on the level 4 list. Africa – Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, South Sudan and Somalia. The Middle East – Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Asia–  Afghanistan and North Korea.

The only country to which the U.S forbids travel using its passport, is North Korea. All other are merely advisories.

Country levels can be supplemented in the descriptions with sterner warnings for specific areas. For example Mexico is a level 2 country, but five states in Mexico have been given “do not travel” advisories due to criminal activity and lawlessness. The five include the northern border state of Tamaulipas and the Pacific coast states of Sinaloa, Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero.