Bangkok, Thailand – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (
has released a paper called Living With Government Travel
Advisories:…
Bangkok, Thailand – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (
has released a paper called Living With Government Travel
Advisories: Maximising Gain, Minimising Pain.
A travel advisory is an official warning issued by a country to its citizens
about the dangers, real or perceived, of travel in a specific foreign land.
The report's author, Mr. David Beirman, argues that it is vital for
national tourism offices to understand how governments formulate advisories.
"In managing the impact of travel advisories it is equally important for
tourism authorities, especially when based in a foreign country, to identify
and establish an ongoing relationship with those who actually formulate
government travel advisories."
The report says that if a cordial relationship is established in peaceful
times, this will benefit the destination when it faces a crisis.
The report also argues that government information gathering is an inexact
science. Travel advisories are often researched and written by overseas
embassy staff who rely on personal experience, local and foreign media
reports and, only in some cases, on field assessments. When there is no
embassy or consulate, information gathering may be based on second-hand
reports, some of them inaccurate.
Accordingly, it is vital for tourism officials in a destination to create an
ongoing relationship with embassy officials representing the source country.
Mr. Beirman, the founder and inaugural Chairman of the Eastern Mediterranean
Tourism Association (Australia) and executive board member of ANTOR
(Association of National Tourist Offices–Australia), also says that some
governments deliberately issue harsh travel advisories to show political
disapproval of a destination's policies.
However, a national tourism office can turn the tide with good embassy
relations, by issuing alternative press releases, by direct counter
broadcasts to tour operators, airlines and insurance companies, by posting
honest security updates on its Web site, by proposing alternative security
solutions for travellers, by inviting foreign journalists to see what the
situation is really like, and by working closely with regional tourism
associations.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
