International Business Travel in Turbulent Times
Essential reading if you are planning a business trip overseas M
any commercial opportunities exist overseas that simply cannot be replicated
at home, making business travel essential. With these opportunities come inherent risks and in the following paragraphs I will summarise how I believe they may be mitigated.
This advice assumes that the traveller will be alone and doesn’t enjoy the support of a corporate travel or security team, who will usually undertake many of the tasks on their behalf. But remember, regardless of whether they do or not,
Your employer has a duty of care to ensure that employee travel is as safe as it possibly can be and that you are protected against avoidable risk.
Failure to do so will render your employer and individual managers and directors liable to criminal prosecution should you be killed or injured.
Even if you are travelling in company and/or 32 © CI TY S ECURI TY MAGAZ INE – AUTUMN 2013
have the backing of corporate travel and security experts to support you, you should remain aware of the potential problems and be cautious of any situation that could pose a risk to you.
Research and Prepare Firstly, consider the following questions:
Do I really need to travel? Could I achieve the desired outcome via video conferencing for example?
Am I fit and well to travel?
Discuss any medical concerns with your doctor before travelling and, if you take regular medication, ensure that you have enough for the entire duration of your trip.
Do I require inosculations before I travel? If so, how long before I travel should they be taken? Again, consult your GP or company Occupational Health dept.
Research the location that you’re travelling to. Is it a location with known security, medical or natural risks? Is there a risk of civil or military disruption or disease? Are earthquakes or typhoons a possibility?
Refer to
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice; for further information.
Do I know the people that I’m visiting; how will I recognise them; can they be trusted?
What equipment should I take? Avoid taking anything containing commercially or personally sensitive information, unless properly encrypted. Discuss this with your IT department.
Do I have adequate insurance and medical coverage for this trip? Certain destinations will not be covered by your businesses travel insurance unless you comply with terms imposed by your insurer before travelling.
Do I need a visa or other authority to travel to the location, and how long before I travel do I need to apply? Visa applications may take weeks in certain circumstances.
Does my passport have a sufficiently long gap before expiry to satisfy local requirements? Some countries require a minimum of 6 months remaining on your passport, on the day you are due to leave the country.
How am I going to get around when I arrive in country? Is public transport safe and reliable or should I arrange pre-booked transportation? Where possible your host or
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