It’s a case of check it out before you check in! ABTA has this weekend warned people to check out official travel advice on their holiday destination before leaving the UK.
May be hard to believe, but one in three holidaymakers travel abroad without looking at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice, for informative and up-to-date information on their chosen hotspot.
As an estimated 25 million British holidaymakers prepare to jet off on their summer break, new research by the travel association ABTA shows that 34% said they knew everything they needed to know about their holiday spot and 30% said that they didn’t check as they had already been before.
The two-thirds of people who do check searched more for advice on local currency (59%), healthcare (including vaccinations) (56%), entry requirements (54%) and safety and security (52%). More than two in five people (41%) said that they checked advice on local laws and customs.
One in six people said they checked travel advice for their destination with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, equal to the number of people who checked a travel guidebook, while 25% said they checked a travel review website.
Travel advice for destinations can change quickly and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Travel Advice pages are under constant review to reflect any real-time updates, such as recent incidents, changes in entry requirements or local laws and customs – something which is not possible to find on a travel review website or in a travel guidebook.
One in four (23%) people said they checked advice with the travel company they booked with. ABTA is reassuring holidaymakers that an ABTA travel agent or tour operator can signpost you to the latest travel advice, including from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
ABTA’s Nikki White said: “While it is encouraging to see that the majority of holidaymakers are looking for advice as they prepare for their trip abroad, many aren’t looking in all the right places for the most up to date information.
“Along with other useful information about your holiday and destination, your ABTA travel agent or tour operator will be able to advise and sign post you to the latest FCO advice. Even if you have travelled to that country many times before, we live in a world where things are frequently changing so it’s recommended to check advice as you prepare for your holiday.
“Guidebooks and travel websites can also provide valuable tips about sightseeing and experiences, but may not reflect the most up to date travel advice. The FCO Travel Advice is the best place to get complete and up to date information on your holiday destination.”
Did you know?
Advice for different destinations can differ greatly from country to country. Here are six examples of travel advice for 2018 holidays that you may not already be aware of:
Thailand: In January 2018, Thailand authorities introduced a smoking ban on beaches in several in major tourist destinations such as Phuket, Koh Samui and Krabi. Those caught smoking in non-designated areas could face a 100,000 baht fine (about £2,350) or up to a year in prison.
Spain: Majorca and other local councils in Spain have banned the consumption of alcohol in the street and on-the-spot fines of up to €3,000 may be issued. Penalties in Magaluf are four times as high as last year. There are strict controls on drinking in public places, including beaches.
Croatia: Walking shirtless or in swimming costumes is frowned upon in town centres, some popular tourist spots such as Dubrovnik or Hvar have signage to show that the practice is prohibited by law and offenders will be subject to an on the spot fine.
Netherlands: The Netherlands has a reputation for being tolerant on the use of so-called ‘soft drugs’. In reality drugs are prohibited and this tolerance exists only for designated premises in the major cities and buying or smoking soft drugs in public places is an offence.
Turkey: Old coins and other ‘treasures’ found when diving should not be taken home as souvenirs without first checking the rules. For example, in Turkey the possession, sale and export of antiquities is against the law and carries a prison sentence of five to 12 years as well as a substantial fine.
Holidaymakers can visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for travel advice about their next holiday destination.
