Tips on how to Mitigate Risks When Touring To your International Country

No matter whether hajj and umrah you are a very first time traveler or even a frequent traveler, travel safety commences along with you. To lots of people, touring overseas form part and parcel in their paperwork. They may be uncovered to threats anytime they select an abroad excursion.

People today heading on overseas enterprise outings for several factors, this sort of as:

- attending enterprise meetings / seminars / workshops, - presenting academic papers / giving lectures, - taking part in trade missions / exhibitions / cultural shows, - signing agreements / memorandum of understandings (MOUs), - amassing resources for articles or blog posts or books, - taking part in students' trade packages, - complete Hajj or Umrah, etc.

The author, becoming a recurrent traveler, attempts to record down as quite a few forms of hazards as possible which might be more likely to be confronted by an overseas' traveler. It may possibly be categorised into five areas, particularly early preparing; in the airport; although within the host place & personal protection; hotel protection; and return journey.

Travelers should bear in mind that security precautions are tight within the airports and hotels and thus they must learn to take wise and prudent precautions when touring. Readers should also take note that ideas given here are not exhaustive, they can be intended to become used only as a guide and security traveling tips derived from other sources should also be considered.

Early preparing

Based on writer's own experience, there are not lots of dangers involved here except for a careful preparation. This will usually include: a passport; two-way flight reservation; hotel reservation; host country's visa requirement; currency; any required vaccination; and journey insurance.

The passport is considered as your own life. It is also the most frequently used document anytime you travel. It is used during visa application, check-in counter for the airports, immigration & customs counters, check-in counter within the hotel, cashing of travelers cheques (if applicable), and so on.

In terms of packing, it is up to an individual's taste. However, the golden rule to follow is - always journey light. Petty thieves and pickpockets love to exploit or prey on tired travelers burdened with heavy luggage. Other basic safety reminders when packing: pack your luggage yourself; lock your check-in luggage, so that nothing is usually put in or taken out; use plain-looking luggage, (designer, fancy or expensive-looking luggage attracts attention of potential snatchers); use luggage tag and place another one inside the luggage; remove old airline destination tags; and carry the appropriate clothes.

For those carrying a notebook, always check first the type of plug the host region is using - it can be British three-pin, European two-pin round, American two-pin flat or others. If in doubt, bring along an international adapter. To avoid attracting attention, travelers are encouraged to place their notebooks in non-notebook bags.

Perhaps you may also want to bring along reasonable supply of medicine for common illnesses, this kind of as fever, diarrhoea, cough, cold, etcetera. One last reminder, do not carry any sharp object, inflammable items and check-in on the airport at least 3 hours before departure.

It is to your advantage if your organization has a local contact to take care of you though you happen to be during the host region.

At the airport

Company travelers should be aware of following security & safety precautions: refrain from carrying luggage or packages for others; never leave your luggage unattended for the airport, even in perceived safe place, e.g. Golden lounge; always carry your cabin luggage with you when getting off from the plane during a stopover or transit flight; avoid talking about your paperwork, purpose of travel, accommodation, itinerary, and so on. with strangers. If you need to put down your luggage, place them in between your legs.

Even though inside the host country & personal security

After completing all disembarkation formalities, the 1st thing to do is to wait for the check-in luggage, if any. The luggage claim area is normally situated just immediately after the immigration counter. Upon accumulating the luggage, check properly if there is any sign of it getting tampered with. Somebody who is working while in the airport complex may have tried to tamper with passengers' belongings, perhaps at random. If this happens to your luggage, report to security desk immediately.

Before leaving the airport, call your local contact if you have one. It is advisable to change some money into local currency. You may need to pay for the taxi fare from airport to the hotel in local currency. At some places, however, you may use the service of one of the reputable taxi company counters and the fare is charged to your hotel bill.

Travelers may want to take note that in some countries, U.S. Dollars is considered as a commodity. Tampering of notes will affect the value of trade rate. The exchange rate may vary according to notes bill - higher notes bill commands a higher trade rate.

If your business enterprise meeting will be held outside your hotel, book the hotel's taxi for your transportation needs. It may be a bit more expensive, but it is safer. Always go out in pairs, any time doable. In a lot of cities, taxis are reliable, however, get ready with some small change as quite a few taxi drivers do not have it. Small change can also be conveniently used as a tip, if you feel like supplying it for the good service rendered.

As a reminder, it is normal for a building's security personnel to request for your ID in exchange for a visitor's pass. You may give any variety of ID, but never your passport.

To minimise personal pitfalls when touring overseas, it is suggested that you follow simple tips as follows: inform or register with your country's High Commission; inform or register with Country/Area Manager's Office environment (applicable to certain multinational corporations having offices abroad); keep a low profile and do not show-off; do not display money or jewellery in public; carry cellular phone at all times; learn not to trust just anybody; as much as you can, try to look like locals, e.g. dressing; learn to break from routine; do not get caught in local's civil strife - stay indoors; do not drive, therefore road accident can be avoided; if arrested, contact your High Commission immediately for assistance; use shoulder wallet to keep your passport, airplane ticket, cash, etcetera; never get involved with drugs; avoid going out alone and reduce time spent on the streets; women should not walk alone on the streets to avoid unnecessary harassment; and beware of criminals who pose as plainclothes police personnel in order to rob international tourists.

Other useful travelling tips include: keep both hands free; keep passport, plane ticket and cash on you at all times; make photocopies of passport and plane ticket, but keep them separately from the originals; be careful about using your maps as they portray that you're a foreigner or simply a tourist; keep blood type identity in your purse / wallet, if available; place cellular phone properly, for theft is common in certain countries; suggest to bring along passport-size photographs; avoid buying too lots of expensive items using credit cards. Always check the amount on the credit card sales purchase slip before signing; eat only cooked food and drink bottled drinking water or bottled mineral water; bring a signalling device, e.g. a whistle with neck cord; practise using local public telephone, if possible; learn to divide placing valuable items you are carrying; do not accept food or drink from strangers - they may be drugged; and when ordering bottled or canned liquid, ensure that it is opened only in front of your eyes.

Hotel safety

In beefing up security, hotels in certain countries install metal detector arch or are using hand-held type metal detector to screen guests as well as visitors.

As a protection precaution during your hotel check-in, request for a room that is located not higher than the sixth floor, if available. It is easier to escape during an emergency, e.g. fire. Travelers should be security aware that rooms on lower floors provide easy access for burglars or intruders. During check-in, place your luggage in front of you.

After check-in, carry your own luggage to your room. Women travelers who arrive late at night may want to request a bell boy or porter to carry the luggage direct to the room, along with you accompanying him. When you to start with enter your hotel room, check the room thoroughly (while in the bathroom, connecting door, behind the curtain, during the closet, and so on.) to ensure that the room is really empty and safe before closing the door.

To reduce or minimize hazards even though staying for the hotel, the following do's and don'ts are useful: choose a newly built hotel. Surely the management had installed the latest protection gadgets available while in the market; check the location of fire exit and staircase, and so on. It is useful when you need to move out or evacuate quickly during an emergency, e.g. fire, bomb threat, terrorist attack, earthquake, and many others. Remember that the lift is out of service during an emergency; for an extra protection of you and your valuables, consider using a rubber wedge or door stopper that you usually use at home; always have a torch light with extra batteries - for being used when electricity supply is cut off. Some hotels provide a torch light, usually placed during the closet; verify callers before opening the door; display "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door; check with the hotel if tap water can be used for drinking. In certain countries, you cannot drink the tap water, even after boiling it for it may upset your stomach. Boil the supplied mineral water to make drinks; place your belongings at one or two places only. It is easier to pack them again should you need to move out quickly, e.g. in case of emergency; to avoid hotel theft, keep all belongings under locked when likely out from the room; and if you have scheduled your meeting inside the same hotel where you happen to be staying, it is to your advantage to check the location of the room initially at your earliest convenience.

Return journey

For security reason, it is safer to travel direct from your hotel to the airport. Travelers should plan ahead as to when to leave the hotel for traffic conditions in certain cities are unpredictable. Departing passengers are required to fill while in the Embarkation Card. They can be also required to pay for airport tax, if this is not included as part of plane ticket fare. Again, do not carry any sharp object, inflammable items and check-in at least 3 hours before departure.