Problem
I am already planning a holiday or business trip to a country with a natural disaster or terrorist attack. Where do I find information?
Answers
Sources include:
Sources in your country: In the UK the foreign office websites covering all aspects of travel from safety and security, from visas to pickpockets and flight restrictions. The USA government has similar.
For each country you can check, advice from the country for people carrying your passport; from your leaving point, from your destination, from any transit country. Travel agents and Tripadvisor are further sources of information.
Check independent information from any third country, or a country adjacent to your destination.
You may also want to check your travel insurance. And your employer. If you are running a business and have group travel insurance, the insurer probably won't cover travel by employees travelling to a country where nationals are told not to go by their government.
Story
International incidents can affect other countries, especially if your flight arrives from the affected destination, or had a stopover there. I was travelling from Singapore to South Africa on 9/11. Planes were prevented from travelling into the USA; other round trip flights were not coming back into Singapore from the USA. Passengers were cancelling or re-routing, so half full flights were not economic. A scared passenger phoned a bomb hoax so my flight had a long delay. After a 12 hour wait, we needed a new crew because our crew could not fly because they were over their limit for hours on duty.
I had insurance for a certain number of days. I had booked my flights so that I stayed the maximum number of delays. An extra day took me over my limit so I was flying uninsured.
SPAIN
International incidents can affect other countries, especially if your flight arrives from the affected destination, or had a stopover there. I was travelling from Singapore to South Africa on 9/11. Planes were prevented from travelling into the USA; other round trip flights were not coming back into Singapore from the USA. Passengers were cancelling or re-routing, so half full flights were not economic. A scared passenger phoned a bomb hoax so my flight had a long delay. After a 12 hour wait, we needed a new crew because our crew could not fly because they were over their limit for hours on duty.
I had insurance for a certain number of days. I had booked my flights so that I stayed the maximum number of delays. An extra day took me over my limit so I was flying uninsured.
SPAIN
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain
information in English about the current situation in Barcelona is available via the following links:
- http://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/en/
- http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/
- https://twitter.com/VisitBCN_CAT
The municipality has also set up two telephone numbers for visitors: (+34) 93 285 38 32 (+34) 93 285 38 34
Advice from US government
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/spain.html
Advice from US government embassy in Spain
https://es.usembassy.gov/visas/
FINLAND
Several websites about safety say that Finland is the safest country in the world. The information might have been compiled before the most recent incident. Always check the news before travelling.
Several websites about safety say that Finland is the safest country in the world. The information might have been compiled before the most recent incident. Always check the news before travelling.
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/finland
http://www.visitfinland.com
Advice from Government of Canada
https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/finland
Advice from US government:
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/finland.html
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. I have written other posts on various aspects of safety and security including pick pocket proof clothing. Please share links to your favourite posts.
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