Americans can still travel safely this summer, experts say
March 25, 2003 12:00 am
Touring Egypt's pyramids or visiting the Holy Land might not be on the agenda for most families, but people taking advantage of vacation deals now, should pack caution for their summer travels.
Avoiding the obvious danger zones is easy, but a war in Iraq can cause worldwide traveling complications as well as heightened security, said Kelly Shannon, spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Shannon said warnings at www.travel.state.gov can help a traveler evaluate the safety of their plans. The Bureau of Consular Affairs handles visas, passports and assists traveling Americans.
“Check the State Department Web site - if we are urging Americans to take caution, I would hope that they would weigh the risks on their safety and security,” she said. “We can only provide information, and hope people take that into account.”
Shannon said that for example, the Lebanon travel warning says, “Private American citizens currently in Lebanon should evaluate rigorously their own security situations and should consider departing.”
She said because the United States does not have diplomatic relations with Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and a handful of other countries, it should send a clear message to travelers.
The U.S. State Department lists about 35 countries Americans should completely steer clear of, including nearly every country in the Middle East, some in Africa and South America.
For some countries, Americans are advised not to travel the roads at night, Shannon said.
“And for others, we have warnings of natural disasters,” she said. “The consular information sheets and travel warnings address more than terrorism and war.”
Travelers can take precautions such as registering with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate or copying the first page of their passport, Shannon said.
“Safety risks should be determined by each individual traveler,” Shannon said. “We do have information available, but we don't ban people from going anywhere - even Iraq.”
The No. 1 precaution for travelers is to be aware, and not just of people, Shannon said.
A chemical or biological attack could be to blame if people are twitching, choking, having trouble breathing or losing coordination or if small animals are sick or dead.
In addition to information from the State Department, for $25 a trip, travelers can employ the experts at iJET Travel Intelligence, the first intelligence organization for the travel industry.
A staff of former CIA, KGB and a variety of intelligence agency veterans who speak 16 different languages, will monitor and immediately notify a traveler of any dangers or delays in their itinerary.
iJET Travel Intelligence was founded in October 1999 and launched the $18.2 million facility, based in Annapolis, Md., in April 2001.
“Your No. 1 weapon is to educate yourself,” said Sarah Slenker, senior analyst and security intelligence and watch operations manager for iJET.
Slenker said the experts on world regions and 10 subjects follow more than 5,000 trips a day in 182 countries and instantly know of a disaster, such as the nightclub bombing in Bali.
Slenker said Western Europe is one of the most popular tourist destinations during the summer months, and iJET has not received harassment complaints from clients traveling Europe now. To find out more about iJet services, visit www.ijet.com.
But Slenker said a war in Iraq shouldn't stop people from traveling because the war is taking place in a country people don't go to anyway, she said.
She said fears of anti-American sentiment also should not keep people in their houses.
“In most areas of the world, people can differentiate between a citizen and U.S. policy,” she said. “But don't talk about a volatile topic and avoid all demonstrations.”
The states may be without an Eiffel Tower or Berlin Wall, but beaches and theme parks still draw a crowd in the summer months, said Teri Franklin, product manager for Internet travel site Expedia.com.
Franklin said many people will visit hot spots in Orlando, Fla., Hawaii and Mexico.
Franklin said people are traveling now and will make plans for the summer months because of a surge in the number of “tremendous deals.”
Expedia announced March 17 that all cancellation penalties and change fees would be waived and full refunds granted to customers who cancel or change their travel plans booked prior to a Homeland Security code red or the start of war in Iraq.
Expedia will refund hotel car rental, or destination attraction reservations, and work with airlines to best apply airline refund policies, Franklin said.
Most airlines will give the traveler the value of the ticket to use later, Franklin said.
Customers have 14 days from the day military action begins or a code red is issued to call Expedia to make changes or cancel their travel plans.
“We're trying to give people the information and flexibility that they need to continue traveling during this uncertain time,” she said. “We're just trying to give them peace of mind.”
Slenker said customers decide if they feel safe or not in a country. iJet won't tell a customer not to visit a country, but most people don't have plans to take their kids to Iran for vacation this summer, she said.
She said when Americans travel, they shouldn't don a “United we stand” T-shirt and U.S.A. baseball cap because friendly and unfriendly people alike can easily identify their nationality.
“Once you educate yourself and get to know the place you plan to visit, you'll feel more comfortable going there,” Slenker said. “Which will provide a better experience over all.”
Touring Egypt's pyramids or visiting the Holy Land might not be on the agenda for most families, but people taking advantage of vacation deals now, should pack caution for their summer travels.Avoiding the obvious danger zones is easy, but a war in Iraq can cause worldwide traveling complications as well as heightened security, said Kelly Shannon, spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Shannon said warnings at www.travel.state.gov can help a traveler evaluate the safety of their plans. The Bureau of Consular Affairs handles visas, passports and assists traveling Americans.
“Check the State Department Web site - if we are urging Americans to take caution, I would hope that they would weigh the risks on their safety and security,” she said. “We can only provide information, and hope people take that into account.”
Shannon said that for example, the Lebanon travel warning says, “Private American citizens currently in Lebanon should evaluate rigorously their own security situations and should consider departing.”
She said because the United States does not have diplomatic relations with Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and a handful of other countries, it should send a clear message to travelers.
The U.S. State Department lists about 35 countries Americans should completely steer clear of, including nearly every country in the Middle East, some in Africa and South America.
For some countries, Americans are advised not to travel the roads at night, Shannon said.
“And for others, we have warnings of natural disasters,” she said. “The consular information sheets and travel warnings address more than terrorism and war.”
Travelers can take precautions such as registering with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate or copying the first page of their passport, Shannon said.
“Safety risks should be determined by each individual traveler,” Shannon said. “We do have information available, but we don't ban people from going anywhere - even Iraq.”
The No. 1 precaution for travelers is to be aware, and not just of people, Shannon said.
A chemical or biological attack could be to blame if people are twitching, choking, having trouble breathing or losing coordination or if small animals are sick or dead.
In addition to information from the State Department, for $25 a trip, travelers can employ the experts at iJET Travel Intelligence, the first intelligence organization for the travel industry.
A staff of former CIA, KGB and a variety of intelligence agency veterans who speak 16 different languages, will monitor and immediately notify a traveler of any dangers or delays in their itinerary.
iJET Travel Intelligence was founded in October 1999 and launched the $18.2 million facility, based in Annapolis, Md., in April 2001.
“Your No. 1 weapon is to educate yourself,” said Sarah Slenker, senior analyst and security intelligence and watch operations manager for iJET.
Slenker said the experts on world regions and 10 subjects follow more than 5,000 trips a day in 182 countries and instantly know of a disaster, such as the nightclub bombing in Bali.
Slenker said Western Europe is one of the most popular tourist destinations during the summer months, and iJET has not received harassment complaints from clients traveling Europe now. To find out more about iJet services, visit www.ijet.com.
But Slenker said a war in Iraq shouldn't stop people from traveling because the war is taking place in a country people don't go to anyway, she said.
She said fears of anti-American sentiment also should not keep people in their houses.
“In most areas of the world, people can differentiate between a citizen and U.S. policy,” she said. “But don't talk about a volatile topic and avoid all demonstrations.”
The states may be without an Eiffel Tower or Berlin Wall, but beaches and theme parks still draw a crowd in the summer months, said Teri Franklin, product manager for Internet travel site Expedia.com.
Franklin said many people will visit hot spots in Orlando, Fla., Hawaii and Mexico.
Franklin said people are traveling now and will make plans for the summer months because of a surge in the number of “tremendous deals.”
Expedia announced March 17 that all cancellation penalties and change fees would be waived and full refunds granted to customers who cancel or change their travel plans booked prior to a Homeland Security code red or the start of war in Iraq.
Expedia will refund hotel car rental, or destination attraction reservations, and work with airlines to best apply airline refund policies, Franklin said.
Most airlines will give the traveler the value of the ticket to use later, Franklin said.
Customers have 14 days from the day military action begins or a code red is issued to call Expedia to make changes or cancel their travel plans.
“We're trying to give people the information and flexibility that they need to continue traveling during this uncertain time,” she said. “We're just trying to give them peace of mind.”
Slenker said customers decide if they feel safe or not in a country. iJet won't tell a customer not to visit a country, but most people don't have plans to take their kids to Iran for vacation this summer, she said.
She said when Americans travel, they shouldn't don a “United we stand” T-shirt and U.S.A. baseball cap because friendly and unfriendly people alike can easily identify their nationality.
“Once you educate yourself and get to know the place you plan to visit, you'll feel more comfortable going there,” Slenker said. “Which will provide a better experience over all.”
