Safety advice

"It can't happen to me, I know the destination like the back of my hand." And yet... "The most complicated population to manage is really the old hands at business travelsays Xavier Carn, Vice President Security EMEA ofInternational SOS. They tell you you're not going to teach me what to do'.And strangely enough, they are the ones who will have to be repatriated as a matter of urgency, either because they have gone off sightseeing in less secure areas, or because they have forgotten to take Malarone against malaria. If you suffer from diabetes, for example, the combination of the two can be extremely dangerous." Grégoire PintonGardaWorld's Global Head of Traveller Security Services, underlines this bPotential decrease in vigilance levels among the road warriors of business travel, "just like car accidents, which most often happen close to home."

So how do you make all these professionals who have travelled the length and breadth of Africa, Asia and Latin America aware of the risks? Safety specialists see only one lever: the experience of their experts who, through very concrete examples from the fieldThey will be listened to by even the most experienced managers. "We put a traveller in touch with a security analyst who visits the place regularly, knows the city, the airport, the right taxi company, the odd street incident that may occur, and so on.says Xavier Carn. The advice will be based on experience, not theory. That's the only way you're going to get something across."

Arnaud Kalika, head of security and strategic intelligence at Meridiam, has his own method for keeping his staff on their toes: make training compulsory and incorporate them into target sheets. "It changes everythinghe says. While there's always a ready ear for training on Africa, some travellers recently felt that I was exaggerating the risks involved in Mexico. That's why I organised meetings with former members of the American services who know the terrain very well. Their message was more audible."To help companies monitor their employees' knowledge, agencies are integrating links to information on the destination into their booking tools, or even e-learning training modules that must be completed, otherwise the booking process will be blocked.

In addition to the regulars, who are full of certainties and can err on the side of caution, there are the overconfidenceompanies have to deal with the different characters of their employees. Some are carefree, even daredevils, and will minimise the risks, while others, more candid, will not see the dangers that await them around the corner. "Very often, an incident occurs because of a lack of knowledge of the country's customs and culture.says Xavier Carn. Common sense helps protect against risksThese include not dressing too conspicuously and finding out whether you can go to a market alone or whether you need to be escorted."

Read also: " Sensitive areas - Vigilance is the law" 

Simple precautions - such as not leaving your belongings lying around - can also be almost self-evident. avoid many inconveniences. It's just like everyday life, except that when you're on the other side of the world, the problems immediately take a different turn. "Imagine a small company sending one of its star executives to sign contracts in China or elsewhere.explains Grégoire Pinton, and can't continue their journey because their passport or computer has been stolen or mislaid. The whole trip can go wrong, with direct and indirect financial consequences for the company.

Also on the list of easily avoidable disadvantages is that of be refused entry to the country. "Some travellers used to going to Africa know that visas are issued on the spot. But sometimes, and this has already happened, the authorities don't want to grant it. What do you do then?wonders Arnaud Kalika. In the same vein, Ethiopia has an e-visa system, but if you haven't registered properly on the internet - which can easily happen - and you haven't printed out the two documents required for entry, you won't get across the border. I always recommend that my staff apply for their visas in advance of their trip, with the help of our administrative department, or that they are accompanied on the spot by someone who can facilitate the issuing of visas.."

According to the International SOS Foundation, Kingston Business School and Affinity Health at Work, 41 % of respondents report that their mood changes during a business trip and almost a third (31 %) experience emotional exhaustion.

Drawing on his experience, the head of security and strategic intelligence at Meridiam warns against another of the deadly sins to which travellers can easily succumb, in addition to the pride of believing themselves immune from risk: lust. "There are many examples of people being robbed in their hotel rooms, or even more, Arnaud Kalika continues. Allowing yourself to be 'tropicalised' is a great classic.  "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". Sin City's slogan is undermined when an incident occurs that goes beyond the private sphere. A long-haul trip, the anonymity offered by big cities, the desire to enjoy a moment of freedom from the daily grind - all these things put together can be the cause of an incident without the necessary vigilance.

A study carried out by the International SOS Foundation, Kingston University and the Affinity Health at Work group found that a third of international business travellers are more likely to engage in risky behaviour abroad due to less inhibition. Among those surveyed, 46 % admitted to often consuming more alcohol when travelling, 35 % were more likely to go out to bars or discotheques, while almost one in ten travellers said they were likely to have sexual relations with a new partner.

Away from the potential butterflies, the three authors of the study also noted the impact of travel on travellers' health, with 45 % experiencing an increase in stress levels during their trip abroad. "This can have serious consequences. If the traveller has an underlying heart condition and has to travel in difficult conditions, with a very tight schedule, the risk factors increase"says Xavier Carn.

Because, let's not forget, the number one issue when travelling abroad is the health of travellers. "Most of our business involves people who fall ill or are injured and have to be repatriated.stresses Suzanne Pahler, Director of Travel & Health at Europ Assistance France. This can range from a simple train ticket to a medical aircraft equipped with breathing apparatus."With stretchers in place of seat-beds. A comfort that business travellers would no doubt do without.