The US State Department’s new travel advisory program has categorised Greece as a low risk area for safety and security.

The new program, which will provide US citizens with clear, timely, and reliable safety and security information, includes 4 levels of advice ranging from “exercise normal precautions” to “do not travel”.

The Consular Section at the US Embassy Athens tweeted Wednesday “the rating should have American tourists packing their bags to come.”

Geoffrey Pyatt, the US Ambassador to Greece also shared his optimism for the rating.

“Greece at the best level of the State Department’s new Travel Advisory Program,” he shared in a Tweet on Wednesday.

“I’m looking forward to seeing even more American tourists here in Greece in the year ahead.”

According to a World Travel and Tourism Council report, The total contribution of Travel and Tourism to the Greek GDP in 2016 was EUR32.8 billion representing 18.6 percent of GDP in 2016, and had forecasted a rise by 6.9 percent in 2017.Other parts of Europe such as Germany, France and the UK received third level rankings informing potential travellers to “exercise increased caution.”

The interactive map and legend can be access here.