Safety And Business Traveling
With more and more Americans traveling overseas
for business, at times to countries they know little about,
safety has become an increasing concern. Though the biggest
perceived threat to Americans on foreign soil is terrorism,
it is petty crime like pick pocketing and theft that corporate
travelers fall prey to far more commonly when abroad.
Safety and business traveling can go hand
in hand. The key to a safe business trip is preparation.
When you learn about your trip, make sure to read up all
the consular information available on the destination. That
informs you about the local conditions you can expect. The
U.S. Department of State regularly releases travel warnings
and makes public announcements if there is any perceived
threat to American citizens in any destination and you must
check if yours is considered risky.
Find out all you can about the culture, customs
and laws of the country you are traveling to. Such information
is easily available at libraries, with travel agents and
on the Internet. Remember that if you run into legal trouble
when abroad, you are subject to the laws of that land and
not the U.S. Constitution.
Make two photocopies of your passport ID page,
driver’s license, plane tickets, credit cards and
travelers check serial numbers. Carry one copy with you,
but remember to pack if separately from the originals. Leave
the other copy at home with family, friends or colleagues.
Write down your travel itinerary and leave it with someone
at home so they know where to find you in case of an emergency.
Buy travel insurance before you leave so you are covered
in case of emergencies.
If you take prescription drugs, check their
legality with a consular official. Certain drugs like tranquillizers
are illegal in a few countries and carrying them could invite
arrest. Also remember to carry all your prescriptions along
with the generic names of the medicines you are taking in
case you need medical attention during your trip.
It is advisable to check with the Centers
of Disease Control before you leave to find out if there
is any public health crisis at your destination. There are
vaccines you can take to protect yourself against many diseases.
A few other simple precautions during your travels will
go a long way in protecting your health. Drink bottled water
and only eat food that has been thoroughly cooked. If your
destination abounds in insects, wear long-sleeved shirts
and long pants when outdoors to protect yourself from bites.
It is best to keep a low profile during your
foreign trips and not announce your itinerary to too many
people. Use traveler’s checks and credit cards as
much as possible so that you don’t have to carry too
much cash around. But exercise caution when you use plastic
because credit card fraud is on the rise worldwide. Travel
light and leave your valuables at home.
Following these basic tips will ensure your
safety during business traveling. If you need the assistance
of a corporate travel management firm in planning your business
trip, visit www.thetravelteam.com.
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