One memorable evening in West Africa, a potential mugger came up to me and demanded money in a threatening manner. I told him I would have been happy to give him some if only I had any …a friend needed help and I had just given him almost all I had. There was US$10 left and we could have a beer, I suggested. What happened was that we walked into a pub, and the potential mugger ended up buying me a couple of drinks. The moral of the story: know when to give a few dollars when needed and, above all stay cool.

According to a Hilton International Survey, 47% of travellers consider personal safety and security to be their main area of concern.

The ground rules for safety are:

  • Dress simply. For non-business occasions, a T-shirt, jeans and even sneakers are universally acceptable.
  • Ask your way about instead of walking for miles in the wrong direction.
  • Remove all jewellery; even a watch can be dispensed with if necessary.
  • Do not carry a thick wallet. A little money in each of the front pockets of your jeans or a flat money pouch carried under your T-shirt is good enough.
  • Carry some form of identification with a local address.
  • Try not to make it obvious that you are a stranger. Try to look as though you have lived there all your life, even if you have just arrived that morning!
  • If you need to find out about something, do it with confidence and pizzazz. If you walk into a bar, for instance, do not appear puzzled or doubtful. Order a soda, for example, spend a few minutes drinking it, get the information you need in the process, then leave. If you like the place and decide to stay on, it may turn out to be an evening to remember.

Safety-related Concerns

Check out the following.

Political Stability

Political stability is a concern in countries where there is war, ethnic conflict or violence, or where there is potential for such to erupt- for example, Bosnia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Iran and Ethiopia. While many fears are often unfounded or exaggerated, you should find out from local sources about the situation at the time of your travel to determine the perceived and actual risks. As the duration of a business trip is generally quite short, risk to your person is minimized, except in places where there is a major conflict.

Possibilities of Getting Mugged

The business traveler cannot disguise himself or herself early and therefore needs to take precautionary measures such as sticking to known routes and choosing a more reliable mode of travel (such as private taxis, which may be a bit more expensive) as opposed to public transport. Among taxis, the monitored ones are always the safest. Always keep a close watch and a firm hand on your briefcase. Do not attract unwanted attention by wearing valuables such as gold chains or expensive watches.

Health

To prevent contracting diseases, you can adopt diet control methods by avoiding cold meats, salads, creams, exposed food and water that is suspect. Controlling your food and drink intake is the best way to prevent illness from ruining a business or holiday trip. While it is good to try out a local foods, you should also wary of the hygiene factor. It is quite easy to do so without forgoing enjoyable gastronomic experiences.

To prevent the possibility of contracting malaria, it is useful to take anti-malarial prophylactics, although this can be dispensed with on a short trip if you are spending much time in closed, air-conditioned areas where the malarial mosquito in immobilized. External application of sprays and creams helps repel mosquitoes and can be a good alternative to anti-malarial medication on short trips.


Medical/ Accident Insurance

No matter how short a trip may be, it is important to arrange medical and accident insurance coverage prior to travel. Take note of the following points:

  • Ensure that the policy provides adequate medical cover.
  • In case of an emergency, does the insurance company pay the bills directly, or does the traveler pay and claim reimbursement later?
  • Check how you can make claims during an emergency. Is an emergency service offered whereby you are provided assistance in a language you can understand?
  • Does the policy cover sporting activity which may carry an element of risk, such as mountain climbing or skiing?
  • Can you extend the period of coverage if a trip is extended unexpectedly?
  • Elderly people and pregnant women should check insurance policies for exclusions related to them.
  • Always read the fine print.

Organisations such as the East-West Centre and White Cross offer services for travellers in distress and there are various insurance policies to cover these facilities. You should try to find out about rescue facilities when you are traveling to particularly dangerous destination.

Choice of Air Travel

Technology has ensured that even the not-so-well-managed airlines use the better planes in the world and hence are fairly safe. However, there is increased risk when flying on a chartered or locally hired aircraft, as these may not observe the safety precautions of an international or domestic airline. Helicopter travel should be avoided as far as possible as it is one of the most unsafe forms of air travel. If there is no other choice, check the safety standards of the company operating the helicopter flights.

On the Road

On arrival at the airport, you should enquire about hotel and transport options if these are not obvious (by way of posters or visible taxi queues). Ask the airport or airline staff for help or directions. The level of economic development of a country is often a good indicator of the quality of facilities available.

You should not compromise on safety and should only use reliable transport. This may mean spending a little more money and traveling on better-quality cabs, for instance. It is best to avoid unauthorized "gypsy cabs" that offer cheap rides.

In developing countries, it is advisable to avoid driving yourself around. Besides unfamiliar roads, driving conditions can be quite chaotic. Long road journeys that involve crisscrossing the country are not recommended. The lack of promptness in attending to accidents can also be quite appalling. While medical services can be quite good in some of these countries, there may be unnecessary delays in getting you to a hospital and post-medical options can be quite poor.

You should take special care while crossing streets. Zebra crossings are scrupulously respected in most Western countries but often hold little significance for vehicular traffic in some other countries. When walking along the street, you also have to be constantly aware of the side of the road on which people drive so as to watch out for traffic on the "correct" side when crossing.

Hotels

For the sake of safety, you should choose a hotel that is of a reasonably high standard. Often, the hotel rates are an indicator of the standard you can expect. In developing countries, a hotel in a metropolitan city that costs less than US$50 a night may be quite risky; similarly, one costing US$35 to US$40 in a small town or resort area is not likely to be safest place.

When checking into a hotel, you should ensure that the room is not on a very high floor so that , in the event of fire, you can make a quick exit. Similarly, you are safer in the room close to the staircase. Get a room that opens into an inside corridor within the hotel building. Rooms on the outside, opening into a yard or parking lot, are more accessible to thieves and your movements can be watched by them more easily.

Major hotel chains that operate in developing countries generally maintain good standards, and this goes even for the relatively cheaper chains.

Airborne

It us strongly recommended that you keep your seatbelt fastened at all times. A friend who survived a plane crash insists he was saved because his seatbelt was fastened securely whereas those of some of his fellow passengers were carelessly or loosely fastened. Those people were thrown around, and some were injured or killed when the plane crash-landed.

The Bus Ride To or From the Plane

The approach route to the boarding and disembarkation gate is sometimes via a bus. While on board the bus, you have to watch your feet as the bus can be crowded. Another risk is having your shin hit by the carry on baggage of others. The jerky commencement or ending of the short bus ride can also result in a topple.

Carry-on Baggage

Many airports entail long walks and escalators may not be provided. Hence, you should carefully consider your choice of hand luggage. If you are carrying one or more bags of a fairly large size, an option is to position yourself strategically at the boarding gate so that you can be among the first to board the plane upon announcement.

Although the boarding of flights is sometimes carried out according to rows and seat numbers, you can still be among the earlier passengers and so secure sufficient storage space. Many people carry a lot of luggage on board and storage capacity is limited, hence it can be quite difficult to find space. You are then left with the cumbersome task of stuffing your luggage under the seat and thereby cramping your seating space.

Another good location for storing bags on an aircraft is behind the last seat in each section of the aircraft. It is one of the most convenient spaces in the aircraft for storage and cabin attendants often store their personal luggage there.

Flight Announcements

Some airports are now discontinuing flight announcements as research shows it disturbs passengers. Hence, you should be alert about boarding time.

Quality of Food at Airports

The quality of food at the airport can be quite poor and the prices exorbitant. This is probably because of the cost of restaurant space at airports can be high. You may therefore want to avoid eating at the airport. For those who do not mind the food or price, eating at the airport offers a good way to relax after a long ride to the airport and the process of checking in. Most airlines try to maintain a reasonable quality of food served on board.

Women ... Beware

When it comes to crime, women generally tend to be more vulnerable than men. certain countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, a lone woman vacationer can be especially prone to harassment.

Dress in a manner appropriate to the country you are visiting. Plan a conservative travel wordrobe. In some countries, it is best to avoid shorts, short skirts and revealing tops. Wear accessories like a wedding band, although it is sometimes better to avoid jewellery altogether. Avoid eye contact with anyone who is suspect. When bothered by someone, try to latch on to a group near by or talk to other women; they will usually be very understanding. Also, avoid public transportation after dark. Similarly, avoid moving around by yourself at night.

In addition, it is advisable to learn some of the more basic self-defence skills. Judo is useful for women as it gives some valuable tips on defending oneself against a far stronger opponent.