International SOS, the medical and travel security services company, and consultancy Control Risks have launched their Travel Risk Map 2016.
International SOS has published a Health Risk Map since 2010. The map was renamed to Travel Risk Map for 2016 to take into account the newly added travel security risk ratings. Mapped are each country’s medical risk rating and travel security risk rating, as an overview of risks by destination to aid businesses and staff before travel.
The firms say that an analysis of international business travel against the ratings found that nearly one in three trips abroad are to countries with a higher medical or security risk rating than the travellers’ home country.
Rob Walker, Head of Information and Analysis at International SOS and Control Risks, said: “Education and information – and, in some cases, training – are vital to helping employees understand and mitigate threats to their personal safety. Our comprehensive overview reveals that in 75 per cent of countries the medical risk is assessed to be at a different level from the travel security risk. This range within individual countries highlights the complexities organisations face when preparing staff to travel abroad. Organisations are encouraged to review both medical and security issues when preparing their employees for travel and assignment abroad.”
A recent Ipsos Global Advisor study asked participants about their concerns and preparations when travelling abroad. The report found that while eight in ten travellers have felt their personal safety could be threatened while abroad, fewer than four in ten travellers research crime at destination, neighbourhoods to avoid, safety standards of public transport, or security features of their accommodation before they travel. The study also reported that while 71pc of senior executive travellers have experienced a medical problem abroad; only 15pc assess adequacy of local healthcare before travelling.
Dr Irene Lai, Medical Director of Information and Analysis for International SOS, said: “We created the Travel Risk Map to help travellers align their pre-trip preparations proportionately with the risks they may encounter in a particular location. Even in countries with a low medical risk rating and state of the art medical services, travellers may still need assistance with language or navigating an unfamiliar health care system – both of which can be significant barriers to obtaining care.”
Rob Walker added: “The reality is there are risks everywhere in the world. Understanding what those risks are, and then taking appropriate precautions is the best way to support your staff, enable business growth and deliver on duty of care.”
View the map online at www.internationalsos.com/travelriskmap. An interactive digital version is also available. Features include drill-down capabilities to see specific zones within countries that have a higher travel security risk rating, and city/country search functionality. The interactive map is available to clients to embed in their websites.
Background
International Travel: Risks and Reality was an Ipsos Global advisor research study of 10,726 people in 13 countries, including 2,391 senior executives. Research was conducted online using representative panels from September 25 to October 9, 2015.
Travel Security Risk Ratings are developed by International SOS and Control Risks and are based on the current threat posed to travellers and expatriates from a number of factors including political violence, social unrest and crime. Definitions of travel security risk ratings are available at www.internationalsos.com/travelriskmap.
(Pictured: geological wall map, Durham University)
