12^th December 2007

The UK travel industry and Brits abroad compound problems of travel related incidents  

The recent Travel Incidents Survey conducted for the We Care organisation revealed that over 80% of travel companies did not have emergency recovery policies in place and over 60% did not provide assistance for travellers in difficulty abroad. Uncovering a tendency of passing the responsibility to the traveller, or insurance industry, the feedback exposed a shocking reality; travel companies are largely ill prepared, untrained, or simply unwilling to provide a basic level of ‘care’ for their customers.

The lack of information and where to find help when in another country is regarded by travel safety experts as the single most critical threat a traveller experiences when faced with a problem or worse still, a crisis. And, as demonstrated by the Foreign Commonwealth Office, Brits abroad - especially young adults - are the most vulnerable with almost no knowledge of the assistance available. In an earlier survey only 12% said they had information or the means to cope with a problem. With travel numbers reaching 70 million a year this presents a phenomenal problem for any authority and a headache for the travel industry.

Reasonable levels of care are all that are required. With the travel industry facing the potential consequences of overt negligence under the forthcoming Corporate Manslaughter Act, attitudes towards a ‘duty of care’ will have to become, as one senior industry leader suggested, “a compulsion to care”.

In response to this fact and the survey’s findings, Fisher’s Travel SOS, the world’s exclusive travel crisis information publisher has announced that all travel industry and related companies can now offer a version of Fisher’s Travel SOS to their clients and customers free of charge. Called ‘Fisher’s lite’ the new guide provides destination-specific embassy/consular contact information, emergency service contact numbers, financial services contact numbers, Know Before You Go advise, and a host of other critical contact information - all the critical information travellers should have in their possession for a safe and secure trip.

Provision of Fisher’s Travel SOS clearly demonstrates a reasonable level of care and concern for the traveller and whilst available over the Internet, the free ‘lite’ version has to be ordered via an employer, travel agency, airline, or travel related company.

Until now travel companies have had little incentive to provide critical contact information especially when customers are unlikely to ask. The We Care organisation, in conjunction with Fisher’s Travel SOS, is sending a loud and clear message: All companies must demonstrate a greater degree of Corporate Social Responsibility and ‘duty of care’ by making every reasonable effort to educate, supply and encourage safe and responsible travel for customers and / or their staff.

Notes to Editors

FISHER’S TRAVEL SOS (www.fisherstravelsos.com)
Fisher’s Travel SOS provides critical contact information, contact numbers, addresses and other information (emergency or other), for over 200 destinations around the world, supplied in several printed or online formats. 

Contact Julian Fisher

julian.fisher@fisherstravelsos.com