Transcript Travelling Safely - University of Reading

Travelling safely in
a risky world
Wednesday 17 October 2007
Marsh Ltd,
Tricorn House, Birmingham
www.marsh.com
Introduction
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Security
Security should be about taking sensible precautions
commensurate with the risk and not a fortress mentality
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Hazards facing the traveller
 Crime – kidnapping, mugging, car jacking and illegal detention
 Natural disasters – hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, volcanoes,
flooding and tsunamis
 Health – ‘bird flu’, AIDS, cholera and malaria
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Duty of care
A company has responsibility for duty of care towards employees travelling
on company business and are advised to ensure
procedures are in place to:

Brief travellers prior to every trip on the prevailing security situation
in countries to be visited

Make them aware of security measures to be followed to reduce the
risk of becoming a victim of a crime

Monitor travellers during their trip

Provide a 24-hour emergency number to be called in the event of
an incident
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Basic security principles
 Awareness: ensure you are aware of the nature of the prevailing risks,
the levels and take precautions accordingly
 Low profile: the obviously wealthy and foreigners present good targets for
criminals. Lower your profile by dressing down, not wearing expensive
jewellery, looking confident in your surroundings and avoid drawing
attention to yourself by your behaviour
 Unpredictable routine: vary your routine – routes, timings, visiting
public places
 Layers of protection: good security includes both procedures and
physical measures
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Phases of travel
 Planning the trip
 Arrival in the country
 Staying safe while in the country
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Planning the trip
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Company policy for travellers
 ‘Ownership’ – nominate a senior executive to take responsibility for travel
 Distribute company travel policy amongst employees
 Use a centralised booking system
 List countries that require special authority for travel – executive sign off
 Have country risk information available on intranet
 Ensure travellers know procedures for emergencies including medical
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Monitoring country risks
 TV – 24-hour News
 Newspapers
 Country risk reports from specialist consultancies
 Country advisories on government websites
 Contacts within countries
 Talking to personnel who have returned from visits
Note:
 Accurate assessment and interpretation of information is vital especially
for likely future developments
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Countries with kidnap risk
RED:
Frequent kidnap threats and incidents; over 300 incidents per-year; many professional groups
operate including terrorists; foreign nationals should take precautions
GREEN:
Many incidents mainly wealthy local nationals; over 50 incidents per-year; experienced criminal
groups operate; infrequent kidnaps of foreign nationals
YELLOW:
Up to 50 incidents per-year; limited number of criminal groups operate; foreign nationals are
rarely targeted (Source: Control Risks IKOS service).
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Colombia – areas of kidnap risk
 Research where the risks are
greater within a country
 It does not mean there is no risk in
the other areas but extra vigilance
is needed in the areas of higher
risk
 There is the need for ongoing
monitoring of the risks as
situations do change
(Source: Control Risks IKOS service).
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Governmental websites
 UK – www.fco.gov.uk/travel
 USA – www.state.gov/travel/warnings
 Australia – www.smarttraveller.gov.au
 Canada – www.voyage.gc.ca
Note :
 Choose a country with close ties to your country of destination
 ‘Governments are likely to take a cautious approach when providing
information’
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Services available from specialist consultancies
 Country risk reports
 Incident alerts
 Pre-travel risk updates
 Travel tracker – on-line record of all travellers covering flights, hotels,
dates, countries/cities, contact details (iJet, Control Risks Travel Tracker,
Air Security International)
 24/7 travellers help desk
 Meeting and greeting on arrival and escort in country
Note:
 Specialist consultancies will advise how travel can be undertaken safely
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Preparing to travel
 Find out about cultural, religious and political issues – avoid offending
your hosts
 Check if anything is banned – alcohol, men’s magazines, visa stamps in
passport
 Check for dates of events – national holidays, elections, proposed
industrial action or anti-government demonstrations
 Health considerations:
– Inoculations
– Anti malarial medication
– Local medical facilities
– Medical insurance – is it valid for your trip?
– Take a small medical pack
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Arranging travel
 Use a reputable travel agent
 Do not make reservations in a company name
 Select a direct flight starting from your departure point
 Use reputable airlines and check code share carriers
 Take a flight that arrives during daylight hours
 Check airport restrictions on baggage and personal items
 Ensure all documentation is valid before departure
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Pre-travel considerations
 Take photo copies of photo page of your passport and any visas
 Take enough local currency for use on arrival for taxis, tips etc.
 If practical, arrange to be met at the airport
 Arrange accommodation in a safe part of the city
 Memorise useful local phrases
 Check natural disaster record – earthquake zone, volcanoes, hurricane /
typhoon season?
 Health hazards – ‘Bird Flu’
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Communications
 Check cellular network for the country of destination and programme in
useful emergency numbers – police, embassy
 Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with a colleague or relative
 Agree a contact routine
 Use cyber cafes
 Record important telephone numbers:
– British consulate
– 999 or country equivalent to report emergencies
– Medical insurance emergency number
– Local contact
– Company 24-hour emergency number
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Arriving in the country
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At the airport
 Ensure immigration and customs forms are completed fully and legibly
before arrival
 Be patient at Immigration and Customs
 Have your airline baggage tag available for checking at Customs exit
 Travel light so you can carry your own bags – avoid assistance from airport
employees
 Avoid changing money in public in the airport and using unlicensed
money changers
 If possible, be met by someone you can identify
 If not being met, use official airport taxis
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Accommodation
 Hotel
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On signing in, do not disclose your occupation, position or company
Ask for a room on 2nd to 10th floors but not adjacent to any roofs
Check security of the door and that there is a safe in the room
Read the safety procedures and check the emergency exit
 Other
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Ask for a room which is not on the ground floor
Check security latches on windows
Check security of the door – use a door stopper if necessary
Lock valuables in a suitcase
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Staying safe in
the country
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Awareness
 Identify the higher risk areas and avoid visiting them – poor residential,
red light, late at night, poorly lit
 Be aware what is happening around you – are you being followed?
 Avoid gatherings and demonstrations
 Do not drink excessively in public
 Be aware to threat of potential ‘scams’
 Identify safe locations that you can go to – hotels, shopping malls
 Plan your route before leaving your hotel/accommodation
 Do not listen to your i-Pod or talk on your mobile while walking in public
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General advice
 Dress inconspicuously and do not wear expensive jewellery or watches
 Look confident in public – consult your map out of the public eye
 Do not talk openly to strangers about yourself or family
 Never accept food or drink from strangers – could be ‘spiked’
 Move around in a group rather than alone
 Split credit cards and cash – some on you, the rest in the hotel safe
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Travelling by vehicle
 Taxis
 Rental car
– Used licensed companies
– Employ a local driver unless you
know the country well
– Agree price in advance if not
metered
– Hire a well maintained but
inconspicuous car
– Write down destination address
to avoid confusion
– Select a car for the terrain
– Sit in the rear of taxi
– Ensure the locking system works
correctly and use it
– Do not give the impression you do
not know the route
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Travelling on foot
 Keep to busy areas
 Avoid badly lit streets at night
 Conceal any valuables
 Avoid speaking to people who approach you
 Be aware of being followed
 Avoid using your i-Pod or mobile telephone
 Avoid gatherings
 Identify ‘safe’ places – shops, hotels, police stations
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Summary
 A traveller will be identifiable as a foreigner however hard he/she tries to
‘blend in’
 Regardless of a foreigner’s idea of ‘wealth’, to a local he/she will represent
‘wealth’
 Any indications of lack of awareness or confidence will be exploited by
criminals
 Know the risks, take sensible precautions and appear confident in
the surroundings
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Final thought
Be aware so you can identify a developing situation at an early stage – take
measures to avoid the danger rather than wait until it develops and you
have to ‘fight’ your way out
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The information contained in this presentation provides only a general overview of subjects covered, is not intended
to be taken as advice regarding any individual situation and should not be relied upon as such. Insureds should
consult their insurance and legal advisors regarding specific coverage issues.
This document or any portion of the information it contains may not be copied or reproduced in any form without the
permission of Marsh Ltd, except that clients of Marsh Ltd need not obtain such permission when using this report for
their internal purposes.
Marsh Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
© Copyright 2007 Marsh Ltd All rights reserved
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