Travel Security: Why International Travel Safety Tips are Vital in Modern Times

Today's world is saturated with a wide array of security challenges impacting global safety, especially coming into light when undertaking international travel. In this regard, security threats constantly evolve, whereas threat actors have become more capable and unpredictable. From lone-wolf terrorists, active shooters, and cybercriminals to gangs and rogue security forces, there are many adversaries that overseas travelers should take into account. That being said, some perils are obvious and conventional, like physical assaults, while others are more complex and unorthodox, such as cyber-attacks, requiring a specific response. Anyhow, any security risk demands full attention and a conscientious approach. Otherwise, neglected risks lead to adverse outcomes jeopardizing people's lives and assets.

Nevertheless, when considering a vacation or a business trip, most travelers overlook menaces and other circumstances that can imperil their safety. Although it is in human nature to care about one's well-being, it catches me how people nowadays take the approach to personal security for granted. "It won't happen to me" remains the most common thinking among the general population, leading to a lack of security awareness. But there are better strategies than relying on luck. There's a common saying that states, "If anything can go wrong, it will."

In the same way, some companies reduce the budget for travel security to lower costs. However, cutting corners on the duty of care will cost a company more money in the long run and can have a debilitating effect on its operations. For example 2010, Maran Tankers Management Inc. paid a 7 million USD ransom to Somali pirates to release 28 seafarers (Reuters). When hijacked by pirates, the crew was on an oil tanker transporting crude oil equal to 150 million USD. The company paid a hefty sum for inadequate protection, such as on-board maritime security officers.

Whether planning a group or solo travel, developing a security culture and understanding why travel security is vital in modern times is crucial. This article provides international travel safety tips to help readers manage travel risks and ensure personal safety.

Pre-departure planning is crucial for ensuring travel security and international travel safety. Apart from the apparent travel preparation, such as arranging travel documents, flights, and hotels, travelers should consider several other factors impacting their welfare. How to travel safely depends on various factors, including the traveler's profile, the purpose of the trip, and the country of visit. Travelers abroad encounter risks based on their status, activities, and chosen destination. So, they need to develop a course of action in step with the dangers.

Travel safety tips recommend understanding all dangers ahead of the trip. Travel risk should be identified, assessed, and lessened on this account. Initially, thorough research of the point of destination is necessary. Checking official websites (e.g., the gov website) for travel warnings, crime rates, political situations, natural crises, human-made disasters, and other relevant statistics is a first step in risk assessment. For instance, the state department has issued a travel alert for US citizens going to Mexico to exercise increased caution due to the heightened risk of kidnapping. The warning comes after four Americans were kidnapped in Mexico this year (2023); unfortunately, two were killed (CNN).

Contingency planning is essential for travel emergency preparedness, allowing readiness for anticipated and unexpected emergencies. It is critical for private and business travel. Travelers should realize their weaknesses and devise a proportional mitigation strategy. For example, when visiting a high-risk environment, the risk can be contained by having a secure transportation service, such as a professional security driver, a fit-for-purpose vehicle, safe routes, 24/7 trip monitoring, and knowing where the embassy is located.

All of these require a lot of time, skills, and resources. Addressing a professional travel risk management company to take care of travel safety and security is hugely suggested.

As high-profile individuals, VIPs are vulnerable to security threats and personal safety risks during international travel. It is essential to have a security culture prioritizing travel security and awareness to fulfill the duty of care. Travel safety tips suggest VIPs should avoid disclosing sensitive information on social media to prevent being targeted by criminals, as seen in Kim Kardashian's Paris heist in 2016 (New York Post).

VIPs should consider hiring skilled travel security guards to manage journey logistics and assign controls based on potential harm to mitigate security risks. It is particularly crucial for solo or group travel, where the risk of being targeted by criminals is high. However, travel security services should be factored into the budget to ensure comprehensive travel risk management.

Moreover, VIPs' high-end residences are at risk of a home invasion during vacation periods. Last year (2022), Mariah Carey's Atalanta home was ransacked when she was on vacation (FOX). It is advisable to avoid posting vacation photos on social media to prevent burglaries and hire professional residential security guards to look after the property while on leave.

VIPs who sail with their superyachts are also at risk of piracy, as seen in the hijacking of a luxury vessel in the Mediterranean off the coast of France in 2014 (YBW). Having on-board security officers or a maritime security response team is recommended to avert piracy.

In conclusion, VIPs should prioritize travel security and safety by understanding security challenges and threat actors and implementing appropriate measures to alleviate risks.

Business people in sectors requiring constant worldwide mobility, such as oil & gas, mining, construction, and airlines, face various security challenges. They are easy targets for crimes of opportunity, including pickpocketing, ATM robberies, hotel room thefts, and express kidnapping. The latter involves kidnappers demanding instant payment, and although hostages are typically released within 24 hours, they may experience trauma and torment. It is crucial to have a comprehensive business travel plan that focuses on travel security to minimize these risks.

Corporations have a duty of care to protect their employees and should ensure they are covered by travel insurance against kidnapping. For example, a security team can be on standby for flight crews during layovers in high-threat environments. Nemesis's premium travel plan is excellent for businesses emphasizing travel security.

In addition, travel security training for business travelers is essential to develop situational awareness. Knowing local laws, customs, culture, and how to act can help avoid problems in a foreign country.

In today's globalized world, businesses must take proactive steps to understand security issues and the threat landscape and adopt suitable measures to decrease risks during international travel. It includes budgeting for travel security services and creating a comprehensive travel security plan that considers global safety for all employees, whether traveling solo or in a group. By doing so, companies can ensure the well-being of their employees and lessen the likelihood of security incidents. In short, being mindful of travel security is essential for businesses to maintain their reputation and credibility while protecting their employees from harm.

In today's globalization of markets, certain inherent dangers exist in the environment that can compromise the safety and well-being of private individuals and organizations traveling to the world's trouble spots. Western NGOs and journalists, in particular, are often at risk of politically motivated violence such as kidnap-for-ransom, which terrorists use to demonstrate their hostility towards Western governments. This ordeal often results in more extended captivity, higher ransom demands, and the need for specialized kidnapping experts, negotiators, and hostage rescue teams. Recently, an American aid worker was released by militants in Niger after six years of captivity, highlighting the severity of the threat (AP News).

Moreover, some regions of the world, including Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Southeast Asia, are prone to unconventional hazards such as terrorism, armed conflicts, coup d'etat, natural disasters, pandemics, dangerous animals, poor infrastructure, bad driving conditions, and inadequate medical services. All of these factors pose a significant risk to travelers' security. Therefore, it is critical to conduct thorough research before visiting hostile environments and ensure that emergency support, such as medical evacuation and security extraction, is readily available. We recommend checking the "do not travel" list and our "smart traveler program" for more information on staying safe at every step.

Kidnapping has become a lucrative source of funding for terrorist organizations worldwide. This heinous crime thrives in third-world countries, where political instability, organized crime, poverty, endemic corruption, and lack of resources create an ideal environment for kidnappers to operate with impunity. 

Gunmen set up illegal checkpoints and ambush unsuspecting tourists and foreigners, instilling fear and terror in their victims. Shockingly, even archaeologists, such as Bryce Barker, a New Zealand citizen, and his colleagues are not immune to this threat. Recently, they were kidnapped by an armed group in Papua New Guinea and held captive for a week until being rescued in a daring covert operation (BBC). It's worth noting that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers. Unfortunately, Papua New Guinea is not the only country facing this menace. Other countries, including Mexico, Libya, and Nigeria, have also recorded many kidnapping cases of ex-pats in recent years. Travelers must remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety while traveling to these high-risk areas.