Get smart before you travel abroad
The federal government is encouraging tourists to put safety first by visiting the Smartraveller website.
As the world opens again in the wake of the pandemic, many Australians are planning to embark on their first overseas holiday in many years.
Some of us are so keen to get away that we may have forgotten the first rule of remaining safe while travelling abroad: to be prepared in case things go wrong.
For that reason, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has launched a campaign to promote its Smartraveller service.
According to the assistant minister for foreign affairs, Tim Watts, each month there are more than a million departures from Australia and, at any point in time, there are about 1,250 cases of Australians needing help overseas.
“Whether you're a first-time or regular traveller, going on holiday, to visit family, or travelling for business, it's important that you are fully prepared,” Mr Watts said.
He said anyone thinking of going overseas should consult the Smartraveller website first.
“Smartraveller has travel and cultural advice for over 175 destinations. You can subscribe to get the latest advice and alerts for your destinations.
“Before planning your trip, check whether you have a valid passport, look into visa requirements, get the right travel insurance and, most importantly, read and subscribe to Smartraveller.”
The website offers advice ranging from “Exercise normal safety precautions” through “Exercise a high degree of caution” and “Reconsider your need to travel” to the blunt “Do not travel”.
The don’t-go warning currently applies to 20 countries, including both Russia and Ukraine, where “the security situation continues to be volatile and could deteriorate suddenly”, as well as destinations such as North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Mali, Yemen, Myanmar and Venezuela.
The website also lists services available to Australian citizens and permanent residents at embassies and consulates around the world, along with advice regarding the limits to the assistance that can be provided.
Smartraveller notes that the Australian government may assist its citizens and residents in crisis situations.
However, it warns, “you don’t have a legal right to consular assistance, and you shouldn’t assume assistance will be provided”.
Circumstances where assistance may be limited include those where:
Your actions were illegal.
You’ve deliberately or repeatedly acted recklessly or negligently.
You put yourself or others at risk.
You’ve demonstrated a repeated pattern of behaviour requiring multiple instances of consular assistance previously.
Smartraveller also lists situations where the Australian government cannot help its citizens overseas. Among those things consular officials can’t do are:
Guarantee your safety in another country or make your travel arrangements.
Give you legal advice, interpret or translate documents.
Intervene in another country’s court proceedings.
Investigate crimes or deaths overseas or carry out searches for missing people.
Get you out of prison or prevent you from being deported.
Post bail or pay your fines or legal expenses.
Enforce an Australian or any other custody agreement overseas.
Pay for medical or psychiatric services or medications.
Pay your pension or social security benefits.
While the vast majority of overseas travel occurs without incident, a small amount of time spent getting the latest advice about your intended destination could save a lot of regret down the track.
Related reading: Smartraveller
