The Wise Traveler is a Knowledgeable Traveler

Worldwide travel in today's world of uncertainty presents a myriad of problems for the traveler. One of the greatest benefits to the traveler is having someone with practical experience upon whom you can rely to answer questions and placate fears and tension associated with travel in foreign countries.

Relying on the hyperbole of your travel agent may result in unnecessary problems and concerns. Remember the travel agent is telling you about the "good things" in your travel area. Frequently, the less than desirable areas are not discussed. Just what are some of these areas of concern?

The laws in the various countries are frequently convoluted and not understood by the non-resident. This is a problem to the first time traveler as well as students studying abroad. Actions that are permissible in your home country may be completely illegal in another country. For example, the use and possession of marijuana may be legalized in one country and subject to many years of imprisonment in another. The same holds true for the legal responsibilities owed to the individual.

Some countries have very strict laws on what is considered appropriate clothing. For example, a T-shirt with an obscene statement or picture is considered a serious crime in some counties. It may also be extremely dangerous to make derogatory comments about a country's political structure or religious preferences.

Contact with local law enforcement officials can range from courteous and efficient to incompetent and dangerous. A security professional with long residence and experience in Mexico and South America advised that it is not wise to have contact with Mexican police because of their history of criminal involvement and behavior. If you have the misfortune to be arrested and imprisoned in some countries, the criminal justice procedures are not necessarily in your favor. You may be imprisoned without a trial for a considerable length of time under conditions that resemble the barbaric traditions of the Middle Ages. The assistance of your national embassy is limited by governmental treaties and cannot guarantee that you will go free within a reasonable period of time.

Many countries have problems with the homeless, psychologically impaired, and other persons with inadequate social adjustment problems. In some cases, they may be confined to a mental facility but more commonly, they are allowed to walk the streets and survive in any way possible, frequently resorting to criminal acts.

You should not be discouraged to travel to other countries but should be aware of the different situations and problems that you might encounter. If you depend on media sources for advice, it is wise to consider the prejudices and goals of the media author-are they trying to propagandize for their own personal advantage? The best advice is information provided by someone who has traveled extensively in many parts of our world. David Forbes of Jagwa Forbes in Perth, Australia, traveled extensively throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia while employed as head of security with worldwide responsibilities for an express delivery and logistics service. He has the experience based on extensive worldwide travel and can assist in preparing you for your travel or helping you to resolve problems that may develop.

The author of the above advice is Bill Blake of Blake & Associates, Littleton Colorado, USA. Bill is a security and investigations specialist with listed expert testimony status in the field of premises liability. Jagwa Forbes enjoys a longstanding relationship with Bill and his work in the USA.

Note: Travel Safety and Security is a workshop session available from Jagwa Forbes Group, delivered at our training facility or at locations where existing interest groups and associations gather.

September 2007