Bon voyage
by Graeme Mickelberg
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a record 6.3 million Australian residents made short-term departures from the country in 2009. As Graeme Mickelberg writes, travel security must be an integral part of any traveller’s plans.
The recent release of an Australian journalist taken hostage in Somalia and held for over 15 months is a useful opportunity to reflect on the security risks confronting people travelling overseas for business or on holiday, and the importance of including security considerations as part of travel planning.
The journalist taken hostage in Somalia was one of two people held by criminals who were seeking to obtain a ransom payout. The eventual release of the journalist did not occur easily.
Despite lengthy negotiations involving family members, representatives of the Australian and Canadian Governments, and expert consultants acting as hostage negotiators, the Australian hostage and a Canadian colleague were only released after a ransom was paid. The extended nature of the negotiations, coupled with the poor conditions under which the pair were held, resulted in very significant physical and emotional stress for the hostages, and emotional and financial burdens experienced by their families.
Australia has a very stable security situation and many Australians planning overseas travel do not give their personal security the attention they should. It is often only after they are confronted with a situation where their life is at risk that they become acutely aware that they cannot take their personal security for granted.
A proactive approach to managing security risk by considering security needs before leaving Australia should help to avoid crisis situations - or at least avoid the potential for a reactive response, which can result in ad-hoc and piecemeal solutions that may do little to alleviate the situation, and may add to the confusion that generally characterises a crisis.
The following factors, along with others specific to the country to be visited, should be taken into account when planning overseas travel:
- What is the current security situation in the country to be visited?
- Which areas or events in the country should be avoided by visiting foreign travellers?
- What incidents involving foreign travellers have occurred in recent months, where have the incidents occurred, and what lessons can be learned from the incidents?
- To what extent can the police in the country be relied on to deal efficiently and fairly with matters involving foreign visitors?
- What customs and immigration controls are imposed on foreign visitors?
- If a guide and/or translator is required, how can their reliability be assured?
- What communications are available in the cities and in regional/rural areas?
- How long does the traveller intend to stay in the country?
- Where will the traveller be located while staying in the country?
- If the traveller has a particular health condition, can they obtain treatment in the country to be visited or do they need to ensure they can carry the necessary medical supplies - and will they be able to take such supplies into the country?
- What transport alternatives are available to enter and leave the country?
- What actions should be taken in the event of arrest and/or detention by police or other security services?
- In the event of an emergency, what sequence of actions should be commenced, and, in particular, what actions and information are required by an employer to permit them to assist?
- Before leaving Australia, who should be advised of travel arrangements, including itinerary and contact details?
- Who is the traveller’s contact in Australia, in the event that they are involved in an emergency situation?
Sources to obtain information to assist in planning include the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who have a useful website (www.smartraveller.gov.au) which provides information of a general nature.
More specific information may also be available from diplomatic representatives of the country to be visited, and specialist security advice can be accessed from security consultants on a fee-for-service basis, which can include access to websites that provide up-to-date information about the in-country situation and specific briefings.
On arriving in-country it is advisable to visit the Australian diplomatic mission to inform them of an itinerary and contact details, as well as to obtain an insight into the current security situation.
Overseas business travellers can ill-afford to take their personal security for granted. The threats confronting foreign travellers will vary from opportunistic petty criminals to organised crime gangs, terrorists and disaffected citizens who may be seek to take out their frustration on foreigners.
Regardless of the nature of the threat and the reason for travel, taking time to consider security needs as part of an overall travel plan makes sense and may help to avoid life-threatening situations.