The recent natural disasters in Japan, New Zealand and Australia, have made potential travellers more cautious with travel plans overseas. A recent survey revealed one third of travellers are either rethinking or changing their travel plans due to the recent earthquakes, tsunamis and floods.
Furthermore, while only ten percent have personally experienced such an event, most travellers admit they are not aware of how to prepare or what to expect in the advent of being caught up in any natural disaster. If the worst case scenario does eventuate, the lack of preparation will likely lead to panic and chaos.
Even a small amount of preparation can be enough to make the difference. Here are some tips:
- Research known danger areas
- Check the latest news in the travel area
- Check the for travel advisory notices on www.smarttraveller.gov.au
- Take out travel insurance and ensure there is cover for natural disasters
- Check refund policies for pre-booked flights, tours and accommodation
- Ensure family and friends have a copy of your itinerary and travel plans
- Make a copy of your important documents – a good idea is to scan your passport page and credit cards and store on your phone as a backup.
- Register with the Australian Embassy at the destination
- Enable global roaming on your mobile phone and ensure emergency numbers are saved
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