We will
discuss several aspects of travel security to include due diligence and what to
do if in a region where hostilities just broke out. Readers are reminded that the following is general guidance and if further or particular
information is required you may contact us.
Every travel destination is uniquely different
and usually requires research to properly address possible risks and sometimes travellers
do not really know where to start. Since it is well known that personal safety is a key factor that
influences the decision to travel one must
carry out a study of the chosen destination when the associated knowledge is
limited. Canada, the US and several other countries all have websites in which
they offer the latest updates on travel risks and health situations. It is
advisable for travellers to abide to your government travel advice even though
at times it may be considered over cautious. Travellers should know that
government recommendations are generally based on past events and can be
limited in insight. Another source of information is the various travel forums
that are available on the internet.
There are cities, regions and countries for where travel is highly discouraged for good reasons due to insurgencies, wars or civil unrest which can result in injuries or deaths for visitors. The city of Caracas, North Korea, Afghanistan or northern Cameroon come to mind as areas to avoid but the decision to travel to dangerous regions is yours only and often will not entitle evacuation from your government. It must be noted that every destination has its own security requirements however there are commonalities in safety tips. For developing countries, never show signs of affluence, openly display money or articles of value such as cell phones, never venture out alone at night and the travel tips list can be endless. It is important that travellers exercise due diligence and leave prepared. Visas and all necessary vaccinations should be at the top of the list as well as for travel and hospitalization insurance. As a rule of thumb the riskier the area visited, the more preparations needed. Natural disasters are often overlooked and a good example is the Atlantic hurricane season which occurs over the Caribbean and other parts of North America during the summer and early fall months. What remains important to remember is that most countries that are popular with tourists only require basic awareness or common sense and this is particularly true if in the confines of a resort most anywhere or while in Playa del Carmen in Mexico where tourist police abound.
There are cities, regions and countries for where travel is highly discouraged for good reasons due to insurgencies, wars or civil unrest which can result in injuries or deaths for visitors. The city of Caracas, North Korea, Afghanistan or northern Cameroon come to mind as areas to avoid but the decision to travel to dangerous regions is yours only and often will not entitle evacuation from your government. It must be noted that every destination has its own security requirements however there are commonalities in safety tips. For developing countries, never show signs of affluence, openly display money or articles of value such as cell phones, never venture out alone at night and the travel tips list can be endless. It is important that travellers exercise due diligence and leave prepared. Visas and all necessary vaccinations should be at the top of the list as well as for travel and hospitalization insurance. As a rule of thumb the riskier the area visited, the more preparations needed. Natural disasters are often overlooked and a good example is the Atlantic hurricane season which occurs over the Caribbean and other parts of North America during the summer and early fall months. What remains important to remember is that most countries that are popular with tourists only require basic awareness or common sense and this is particularly true if in the confines of a resort most anywhere or while in Playa del Carmen in Mexico where tourist police abound.
Upon
arrival, it is necessary to obey local laws and visitors are not immune: for
travellers to the Middle East, you can be arrested for being drunk
or intoxicated in public and penalties can be
severe. Register with your nearest consulate or Embassy. A few details that are
often overlooked and warrant a special mention; always keep photocopies of your
passport in case of loss for quick replacement and always leave updated contact
information and itineraries with a third party back home. A good habit to take
daily is to google your destination under the news tab in order to be well
appraised of what could be happening that you need to know. If you wish to
drive a motor vehicle become familiar with local traffic laws and be mindful
that defensive type driving may be the norm as many countries have aggressive
drivers. Crime is present everywhere and it is the biggest threat that awaits
visitors however 99% are never victimized if certain measures are taken. Be aware
that in certain countries or regions where corruption is prevalent and law
enforcement is erratic, little is done to recover stolen goods or to resolve
actual crimes without bribes. There
are several hazards that may be present while abroad. For instance, if visiting
Quito (which sits at 2800m or 9400’ above sea level) altitude sickness may develop and could require
hospitalization thus ruining your stay. Dengue fever is on the rise in many
popular destinations and vaccines are not available at this time. Cultural
perceptions can make a world of difference in some countries and know that some
aspects are protected by law. Men should always wear long sleeve shirts as
well as pants while in Muslim countries and this is in order to adhere to local
customs which are based on religion. Biases
and cultural variations can be significant and may mean the
opposite of what westerners are accustomed to. In some cultures nodding up and down means
no. Body language can also be misinterpreted. Examples of biases and
discrimination are endless such as in some
countries where homosexuality is a crime and behaviour reconsiderations may be
judicious. Internet availability
can be limited and cell phone reliability can be very questionable in some
areas, especially while away from urban centers and other infrastructure such
as hotels or roads are not always to
western standards.
Hostilities can break
out for where you are but what usually leads to an armed conflict were slowly
coming and not without previous indications; basically it is near impossible that
you will wake up one morning at your vacation or business destination and a war
has begun overnight...
Popular support for anti-government causes and general public dissatisfaction with a current government can be the start of a trend that the internal security situation could change, but generally not in the near term. When your government travel advice is updated, caused by a degraded security situation this is when you should be aware that things could go bad and you need to be informed of the evolving internal situation so you can leave if you have to but more importantly while you still can. Regular public demonstrations are usually next with mounting levels of violence. A shift between police to the military to control the crowds most always constitutes a clear sign of security degradation. Various socio-economic conditions worsen and can evolve into the disruption of the economy which can trigger an increase to the crime rate. This is when travellers need to reconsider their stay and must monitor what their government recommend to include departure. There are no guarantees that your government will provide evacuation services for you. The next likely scenario that keeps in the pattern is when a portion of the populace moves away due to the worsening security situation or following armed attacks by opposition groups. Follow your instincts, weigh your options and make a decision based on what are the reasons to stay when it is unsafe to go outside without being caught in violent public demonstrations and the firing of weapons can be heard.
Popular support for anti-government causes and general public dissatisfaction with a current government can be the start of a trend that the internal security situation could change, but generally not in the near term. When your government travel advice is updated, caused by a degraded security situation this is when you should be aware that things could go bad and you need to be informed of the evolving internal situation so you can leave if you have to but more importantly while you still can. Regular public demonstrations are usually next with mounting levels of violence. A shift between police to the military to control the crowds most always constitutes a clear sign of security degradation. Various socio-economic conditions worsen and can evolve into the disruption of the economy which can trigger an increase to the crime rate. This is when travellers need to reconsider their stay and must monitor what their government recommend to include departure. There are no guarantees that your government will provide evacuation services for you. The next likely scenario that keeps in the pattern is when a portion of the populace moves away due to the worsening security situation or following armed attacks by opposition groups. Follow your instincts, weigh your options and make a decision based on what are the reasons to stay when it is unsafe to go outside without being caught in violent public demonstrations and the firing of weapons can be heard.
Every travel destination is uniquely different and requires adequate research, analysis and accurate assessments to properly advise against the possible threats and hazards. We welcome inquiries so we can determine your security needs. Your first consultation is always free. We invite you to review our past twitter posts @parsecconsult as well as this blog's entries.
We encourage feedback and questions to our e-mail:parsec.consulting@gmail.com
Our website: http://parsecconsulting.wix.com/parsecconsulting
Attribution: Copies and redistribution of the above material in any medium or format is authorized providing full attribution is credited by using full link of present blog.
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