Did you know that you have resources at your fingertips to find out what is going on all around the world? There are agencies that post advisories about political unrest, terrorism, natural disasters and disease in order to alert travelers to what is going on in a region, you just have to know where to look. And just because a country has an advisory or warning posted, it may not necessarily be a country you don't want to visit. There just may be a certain region you should avoid. For instance, an island country took a direct hit from a typhoon, but maybe only the northern islands were affected while the remaining islands sustained no damage. Choosing not to visit this country all together could have a serious effect on this country's tourism trade and economy. Take time to delve deeper into what you hear on the six o'clock news and make sure you get the full story before ruling out that destination.
How Serious Do I Take That Warning?
You have to look at a particular warning and decide how it may actually affect your plans. To do this you may want to ask a few questions:
1) Does this warning encompass the entire country, or just a specific region?
Like I mentioned above, a natural disaster may only affect a portion of the country and not the country as a whole. Or in the case of political unrest, demonstrations and violence may be occurring in and around only one specific city, but some destinations away from that city may still be safe for tourists.
2) What exactly is the danger being specified in the advisory?
For instance, once again political unrest, are the demonstrations and violence being directed toward tourists, or are they strictly directed toward their own government entities and representatives. Another example is the typical annual advisory issued for the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific oceans every time hurricane season rolls around again. With this type of advisory, you may just want to make sure you have good travel insurance, or you pick another time of year to travel to that destination.
3) Is travel insurance an option?
Make sure you know what that travel insurance you are thinking of purchasing covers. Most policies do not cover acts of war, riots and/or civil disorder.
4) When was that travel warning or advisory dated?
If it has been several months since the last advisory was issued, you may just want to do some additional research to see what the current status in that country is. Things may have actually improved. A good source of information may be international news agencies.
5) Do other governments corroborate these warnings?
It has been speculated that some warnings are influenced or instigated by the current political atmosphere. You may want to check other English-speaking governments' websites (ie, Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand, for example) to see if they are of the same opinion as to the state of the country to which you want to travel.
6) Is there a safety net for foreign travelers in that country?
Does your home country have an embassy or consulate established in that country? Is it fully staffed and functioning? Embassies are there to assist travelers who are in need of evacuating a country, or need to get in touch with loved-ones back home. Make sure there is some sort of assistance available to you should the worst happen.
To further educate yourself about what may be going on in the country you wish to visit, you may want to check out the following sites.
The U.S. Dept. of State has a page to assist the traveler with alerts and warnings. They define "Travel Warnings" as an issue you might want to consider very carefully to determine if you wish to visit that particular country at all. A "Travel Alert" is a short-term issue you may want to know about when planning your trip. They also provide a wonderful travel resource page which links you up with all sorts of information from things like obtaining your passport or visa, to various travel tips, to handling emergency situations abroad.
Homeland Security has a travel alert page which directs you to TSA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of State, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC's website offers great information on what vaccines you may wish to get before traveling to a country, as well as advice to travelers on packing your prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. They also provide travel health notices and updates for destinations around the world.
So what do I do if I decide to chance it and go anyway?
Many tourists often take the warnings into consideration, but choose to travel despite them. If that is your case, then make sure you cover your bases just in case.
1) Take your first STEP toward preparation.
The U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs offers a free service allowing U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The benefits of enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) are:
- The traveler will receive important information from the Embassy about safety conditions in their destination country to help them make informed decisions about travel plans.
- Enrollment will assist the U.S. Embassy in contacting the traveler in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.
- It will also help family and friends get in touch with the traveler in case of an emergency.
2) Stay in touch.
Stay in touch with the folks back home by either email or phone. Not only will this let them know you are ok, but may keep you informed about what is going on in the world. Also, always leave a copy of your itinerary at home so that people will know where you are supposed to be and when in case you fall out of touch. (Also, leave a copy of your passport with them just in case it is lost or stolen.)
3) Have a plan just in case something does go wrong.
Find out the location of your country's embassy or consulate in the area(s) you will be visiting and make sure to carry a copy of the address and contact details with you. This could be a great resource in assisting you to return home in case of an emergency.
4) Be prepared. Stay safe.
Purchase that travel insurance plan. Check with your doctor to make sure you have the necessary vaccines. Use the links above to do your research. Inform yourself of the political and cultural atmosphere of the area to which you are traveling. And finally, learn the tips and tricks essential to avoid being a victim of tourist scams and other crimes.
Like what you've read? Want to learn how to better enjoy your scuba diving vacation? Maybe you'd like to travel with Delightful Departures on an upcoming adventure? Become part of the Delightful Departures community. Discover different destinations and travel tips in our biweekly newsletter. Join today.
Like what you've read? Want to learn how to better enjoy your scuba diving vacation? Maybe you'd like to travel with Delightful Departures on an upcoming adventure? Become part of the Delightful Departures community. Discover different destinations and travel tips in our biweekly newsletter. Join today.
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