ABTA advises think twice

ABTA – The Travel Association is strongly advising holidaymakers and other travellers to think twice before hiring mopeds whilst overseas, and to only ride quad bikes as part of an organised excursion.  Every year many people have dangerous accidents while on holiday after driving quad bikes on the road and hiring mopeds – causing serious injuries and some accidents have been fatal.

ABTA Members reported 36 quad bike accidents and seven moped accidents in 2017. So far in 2018, seven people have been involved in quad bike accidents on the road. These figures represent just those cases reported by ABTA Members – and ABTA believes the total number of accidents to be much higher.

New figures from ABTA reveal as many as 4.5 million Britons have hired a moped or quad bike whilst overseas – the equivalent of one in ten British holidaymakers. Younger adults are most likely to put themselves at risk - one in seven (16%) British 18-24 year olds who have taken an overseas holiday in the last 12 months said they had hired either a quad bike or a moped.

In recent years, quad bikes have become increasingly popular, particularly in places like Greece, Cape Verde & Turkey. Hiring mopeds has also become common among British travellers in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. Whether in Europe or further afield, these vehicles give little protection in an accident, and riders are particularly vulnerable on the open roads.

ABTA is advising anyone travelling abroad that there are always safer alternatives to hiring mopeds and quad bikes, including hiring a car, taking a taxi or using public transport, and to only ride quad bikes as part of an organised excursion. It is also reminding holidaymakers of the limitations and exclusions of standard travel insurance policies – many of which will not cover accidents from quad bikes and mopeds, leaving seriously injured holidaymakers facing unaffordable medical bills.


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US issues travel warnings for Egypt & Jordan

The US has issued travel warnings for Egypt and Jordan over the risk of terror attacks against American interests, tourists and personnel.  The US State Department warned US citizens to consider the risk of travelling to these countries and to avoid certain areas where the threat is greater.

"The Egyptian Government maintains a heavy security presence at major tourist sites, such as Sharm el-Sheikh... and at many of the temples and archaeological sites located in and around greater Cairo and in the Nile Valley," the travel warning read.

"US Mission personnel are allowed to travel to these areas. However, terrorist attacks can occur anywhere in the country," the alert added, explaining that several extremist organisations are operating in Egypt, including the Islamic State (IS) terror group.

The US has also warned its citizens and staff against travelling to Jordan, where terror organisations, including the IS, are active.

"Jordan's prominent role in the counter-IS Coalition and its shared borders with Iraq and Syria increase the potential for future terrorist incidents," the State Department said.

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"Safety Tips", alert app for foreign tourists to Japan

FOLLOWING the two earthquakes in Kumamoto, Japan in April of this year an app is available for foreign tourists in #Japan to download from Google Play or itunes.

The smartphone app gives alerts for Earthquake Early Warning, Tsunami Warning, and other Weather Warnings within Japan in English, Japanese, Hangul, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.

The app provides various functions useful for both foreign tourists and residents in Japan, such as Evacuation flowchart showing actions to be taken in the light of surrounding circumstances, Communication Card for obtaining information from people nearby, and Website Links that contain helpful information in the event of a disaster.

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Zika warning for Europe – ‘moderate’ risk in France, Spain, Italy & Greece

THE ZIKA virus could travel east to Europe this summer, says the World Health Organization (WHO). The likelihood of an outbreak is low to moderate. Areas most at risk are those where Aedes mosquitoes could spread the virus, such as the Black Sea coast of Russia and Georgia and the island of Madeira. Countries with a moderate risk include France, Spain, Italy and Greece, while the risk in the UK is low.

The WHO is calling on countries to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and to make sure that people – particularly pregnant women – have information on the potential harmful consequences of the disease.

Zika has been linked to a rise in brain defects in babies and the virus has been seen in more than 50 countries during this outbreak.

Professor Jimmy Whitworth, at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, says the risk of Zika spreading to Europe was real and called for holidaymakers to heed health advice. ‘The main mosquito vector for Zika, Aedes aegypti, is only found in Madeira and around the Black Sea, but another mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is more widespread and is capable of transmitting Zika, although not very efficiently.

‘Countries in Southern Europe, including France and Italy, need to be especially vigilant and it's important that holidaymakers follow public health advice while abroad, including taking all the necessary precautions to avoid getting bitten.

‘This is especially so for pregnant women, or women planning to become pregnant, travelling to areas where there is Zika, as there is now a proven link with microcephaly and other birth defects.’

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Travel fraud cost UK holidaymakers £11.5 million in 2015

THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH TRAVEL AGENTS (ABTA), the City of London Police, and Get Safe Online have joined forces to warn consumers about the dangers posed by holiday booking fraud. #Scams are more frequent due to the rise of online bookings 

Findings in a report by the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau reveal the scale of reported crime and expose tactics used by fraudsters who stole £11.5 million from holidaymakers and other travellers in 2015.

According to the report, there has been a rise of 425% in the amount reported lost to travel fraudsters – up to £11.5 million in 2015 from £2.2 million in 2014 – although part of the increase is likely to be due to crime previously going unreported.

The most common fraud type relates to the sale of airline tickets, but there has also been a large increase in the number of owner accounts being hacked into on popular sharing accommodation websites.

Losses for individuals can be substantial, with the average loss being almost £3,000. Almost half of victims (44%) said the fraud had also had a significant adverse impact on their health.

There are distinct spikes of reported fraud in the summer months and in December, indicating fraudsters are targeting holidaymakers and people booking last-minute flights home for Christmas. The majority of those who are defrauded pay by methods such as bank transfer or cash with no means of getting their money back.

The most common types are:

Holiday accommodation – Fraudsters are making full use of the internet to con holidaymakers by setting up fake websites, hacking into legitimate accounts and posting fake adverts on websites and social media.

Airline tickets – where a customer believes they are booking a flight and receives a fake ticket or pays for a ticket that never turns up. In 2015, flights to Nigeria, India, and Pakistan were particularly targeted.

Sports and religious trips – a popular target for fraud due to limited availability of tickets and consequently higher prices. It is anticipated that in 2016, both the European Football Championships in France and the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will attract fraudsters.

Timeshares and holiday clubs – The sums involved with this form of fraud are particularly high, with victims losing between £9,000 and £35,000 each.

The City of London Police, ABTA, and Get Safe Online have published advice on how to avoid becoming a victim of holiday booking fraud – and on how victims should go about reporting it. This advice includes:

Stay safe online:  Check that the web address is legitimate and has not been altered by slight changes to a domain name – such as going from .co.uk to .org

Do your research: Don’t rely on one review – do a thorough online search to check the company’s credentials. If a company is defrauding people there is a good chance that consumers will post details of their experiences, and warnings about the company.

Look for the logo: Check whether the company is a member of a recognized trade body such as ABTA. If you have any doubts, you can verify membership of ABTA online, at www.abta.com.

Pay safe: Never pay directly into an owner’s bank account. Paying by direct bank transfer is like paying by cash – the money is very difficult to trace and is not refundable. Wherever possible, pay by credit card (or a debit card that offers protection).

Check paperwork: Study receipts, invoices, and terms and conditions, and be very wary of any companies that don’t provide any at all. When booking through a holiday club or timeshare, get the contract vetted by a solicitor before signing up.

Use your instincts: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Report it: Victims should contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or register via www.actionfraud.police.uk.


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Beware fake travel websites, says ABTA

A WARNING about fake travel company websites has been issued by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), following an increase in reports of fraudulent sites.

The association has compiled a list of warning signs that suggest that the site might not be legitimate. These are:

• Prices that are considerably lower than competitors 
• Fuzzy logos for trade associations and credit card companies 
• Non-receipt of tickets 
• Bank transfer the only payment option 

ABTA urges users to research companies online before making a booking.

John de Vial, the association’s head of financial protection, said: ‘Our consumer helpline has seen an increase in calls from members of the public who are either checking the validity of a suspicious website or, worse, have already paid by bank transfer and then been fobbed off when trying to get hold of their tickets. We want to make consumers aware of this problem and stop them from being ripped off in this way.’

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Terrorism threat to tourism highlighted

TOURISM will be the industry suffering the most in Tunisia as a result of repeated terrorist attacks, claims strategic market research firm Euromonitor International.

The fear of repeat attacks led to 3,500 British tourists leaving Tunisia since the attack by a militant gunman killing 38 tourists at the resort of Sousse in June. This followed the March museum attack in Tunis.

Egypt, another North African destination hit repeatedly by terrorist attacks, is also expected to see an economic slowdown and decrease in arrivals as well as investment.

Meanwhile, Euromonitor warned that Turkish tourism will suffer from the current stand-off between the country and Russia following the shooting down of a Russian warplane above the Syrian border. The impact of a ban on Russian travel companies sending tourists to Turkey will depend on the duration of the restrictions. But with more than 4.5 million Russians visiting Turkey last year, the country will not make up losses from Russia even if it tries to attract tourists from other countries.

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Airlines warned over danger from Russian air missiles

AIRLINES have been warned that flights over parts of the Middle East are in danger from Russian cruise missiles. Airlines including Air France and British Airlines have been sent a safety bulletin by the International Civil Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Safety Agency. 

The bulletin came after Russia began launching air strikes into Syria, with several airlines which operate routes from Europe flying over strike areas such as Iran, Iraq, and the Caspian Sea. Russia’s missile routes from warships in the Caspian Sea are cutting across busy air corridors, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Air France has started to alter its routes to avoid the area. British Airways declined to say whether it was changing routes for flights in the region, but said it would ‘never fly in airspace unless we were satisfied that it was safe to do so’.

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Rough seas off Spain claim third British victim

A THIRD Briton has reportedly drowned off the Spanish coast. The man, believed to be 48, is said to have drowned in Salou on Tuesday while a swimming warning flag was in place.

His death comes days after two women from Birmingham were swept away in Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava.

The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: ‘We can confirm the death of a British national in Salou.’

A Lloret de Mar police spokesman said there were red flag swimming warnings because of the rough conditions.

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Morocco – FCO raises terror threat level

BRITISH travellers to #Morocco have been warned of a ‘high threat’ of terrorism in the North African country. The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has changed its terrorism threat level in amended travel advice.

The revised travel advisory said: ‘Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners.Protective security measures are in place at many Moroccan hotels and sites popular with tourists. Security measures, including security personnel, may be visible in certain areas.’

The FCO added: ‘The Moroccan authorities have warned of an increased threat linked to the growing number of Moroccans sympathetic or belonging to international terrorist organizations operating in Syria, Iraq, and Libya, and regularly report the disruption of terrorist cells.

‘There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria.You should be vigilant at this time.”

Seventeen people were killed and 25 injured in an explosion at a restaurant in Marrakech in April 2011.

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Foreign cardholders exempt from daily €60 Greek ATM limit

MARKETING GREECE has published a statement saying people planning to visit #Greece in the coming days and weeks should be aware that the daily €60 (£42.50) ATM withdrawal limit at Greek banks does not apply to withdrawals made with credit and debit cards issued abroad,. The daily withdrawal limits for these remain unchanged.

Visitors would, therefore, be able to use their cards as they would during any other visit to Greece, either at ATMs or through transactions at hotels and shops and for services.

In a statement on June 29, Greece’s tourism ministry said:

“The measures the Greek government has imposed, limiting the movement of capital within the country, do not affect those who wish to make cash withdrawals from ATMs or carry out bank transactions with debit and credit cards that have been issued abroad. 

“It should be noted that the country has ample fuel supplies and access to the products and services required to ensure that visitors to Greece’s urban centres, rural areas and islands fully enjoy their stay.”

The British Government’s advice for visitors is to take extra cash just in case they find ATMs empty or closed, or shops and restaurants unwilling to accept card payments.

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Vacation time? Guard your ID!

HOLIDAYMAKERS who used to worry about their homes being burglarized now face a greater threat while travelling: #identitytheft. The increased use of social media, public WiFi networks, ATM machines and mobile devices by families on holiday in the US and abroad have made them prime targets for cybercrime. A free Summer Vacation Guide to Identity Security is now available, offering safety tips for protecting devices, data, and identities.

‘Anyone – adult or child - who uses a computer, tablet or mobile device on a plane, in a hotel room or in a cyber cafe can be a victim of #cybercrime,’ says cybersecurity expert Morgan Wright.

Wright, a former law enforcement officer who has advised the US departments of Justice, Defence and Homeland Security on cybersecurity strategies created the guide in response to an internet safety threat report that reveals a dramatic rise in identity theft, digital extortion, and data corruption.

Among the guide's do's and don'ts are how to identify and avoid:

· Bluetooth and WiFi vulnerabilities

· Social media and mobile app risks

· Malware and ransomware attacks

· Credit card, online banking and ATM scams

Wright recommends that families read the guide prior to leaving on vacation in order to implement some of its recommendations from their secure home internet networks. Then, he suggests packing it along with their travel itineraries as a reminder of cyber safety precautions when on the road.

Copies of his guide can be obtained at www.scribd.com/doc/266503798/Summer-Vacation-Guide-to-Identity-Security

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Be ready for Greek cash crisis, British tourists warned

PLANS to assist British people on holiday in #Greece are being made as the country moved closer to bankruptcy and exit from the #eurozone, the Daily Mail reports.

Tourists have been advised to take enough euro notes to cover emergencies in case Greek banks close cash machines. The Foreign Office advises them to take ‘enough money to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays’, and to avoid relying solely on credit cards or ATMs.

It came as Greece’s prime minister Alexis Tsipras refused to implement further austerity measures needed to unlock emergency funds to avoid a debt default.

British government sources said ‘contingency planning’ was under way involving ministers from across Whitehall departments. Experts believe the threat of a Greek default could lead to a run on the banks, which could result in cash machines being left without money or being turned off. There are also fears the situation could spark civil unrest.

UK officials have held talks with tour operators, who would have responsibility for getting stranded British tourists home. A source said they are also making sure they have the resources in place to provide consular assistance to British nationals who might get into difficulties.

See also previous blog posts on this matter
http://goholidayworldwide.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/take-cash-greece-bound-travellers-told.html

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Warning over sharing holiday details on social media

INSURANCE against burglary could be jeopardized if holidaymakers share details of their trips on social media. The UK’s Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has warned that comments on Twitter and Facebook, locations check-ins on Foursquare and selfies uploaded onto Instagram could be used by burglars to target empty properties.

Many consumers are unaware that insurers are likely to check social media accounts if they are the victims of crime – a practice that is already common for investigating medical claims, The Times reports.

Most insurance policies include clauses that specify that “reasonable care” must be taken to protect property.

The FOS said: ‘People will cancel newspaper deliveries to make their absence less obvious, but then post pictures of their trips – and even dates – online for everyone to see.’

Travellers should be particularly wary of posting comments that detail their itinerary, such as saying they are enjoying the first day of a two-week holiday.

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Breaking News: FCO urges vigilance in Bahamas after violent crime incidents

BRITISH holidaymakers in the Bahamas have been warned about violent crimes and armed robberies. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) urged tourists to be ‘vigilant at all times’ in an update on crime in the islands.

The FCO’s updated travel advisory says: ‘There have been incidents of violent crime including robbery, which is often armed and sometimes fatal, in residential and tourist areas of New Providence, Grand Bahama and Freeport. The number of break-ins and robbery incidents reported to the High Commission has increased. There are police patrols in the main tourist areas.

‘Be vigilant at all times and don’t walk alone away from the main hotels, tourist areas, beaches and downtown Nassau, particularly after dark. Take care if travelling on local bus services after dusk on routes away from the main tourist areas. Do not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery. Robbers might be armed. Do not resist in the event of an attempted robbery.’

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Take cash, Greece-bound travellers told

PEOPLE going to Greece are being advised to take euros in notes and coins in case the country’s escalating debt crisis prompts banks to switch off their ATMs.

The country’s tourist board in London said that while it anticipated no immediate problems, visitors should avoid relying solely on credit cards or local ATMs.

Holidaymakers should take ‘enough money to cover emergencies and any unexpected delays’, advised the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office added.

Travel experts recommended taking around three to five days' worth of spending money in euro notes, alongside credit and debit cards.

Economists say that if the country is denied emergency funds to cover its summer debt repayments, Greece could opt to leave the eurozone.

Bob Atkinson, of Travelsupermarket.com, pointed to the Cyprus bailout in 2013, when banks limited withdrawals and some shops and restaurants were unable to take card payments.

‘If you're travelling to Greece in the next couple of weeks, keep an eye on the news, check the official travel advice and certainly take a mix of different payment options,’ he said.

The Greek economy edged closer to default recently (April 27) when European finance ministers ruled out an extensive bail-out similar to action taken in 2010 and 2012.

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Tunisia searches plunge after terrorist attack

SEARCHES for Tunisia made by UK travellers have fallen by 22 percent following the terrorist attack on March 18, according to the hotel search website trivago.co.uk.

While travel interest in Tunisia as a whole fell by 22 percent, searches for Hammamet (a beach resort popular among UK holidaymakers) fell by 34 percent.

Although the British government has not advised against travel to Tunis and the surrounding areas, cruise companies have removed the city from their itinerary.

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French strike hits post-Easter travellers

HUNDREDS of post-Easter flights have been cancelled because of a strike by French air traffic controllers in a dispute about working conditions and a proposal to lift the retirement age from 57 to 59.

Short-haul flights are expected to be worst affected. 

• Ryanair says it has had to cancel more than 250 flights, with further cancellations likely. 
• Air France says that it expects to operate almost all its long-haul flights and 60% of its medium-haul flights to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

Further action is planned between April 16-18 and April 29-May 2.

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Ferry ports delay warning ahead of new passport checks

PEOPLE travelling to France by sea and train should set off earlier than normal when new exit checks at ports and Eurotunnel come into force next month. 

It was “advisable” for travellers to build in extra time on days when ports are particularly busy, according to Britain’s immigration and security minister, James Brokenshire.

The concerns relate to exit border checks that come into effect on April 8, and could impact people heading abroad for spring holidays.

Every tourist leaving the UK will have their passports checked at ferry ports for the first time in 20 years.

The checks will double the amount of time for a car with a family of four, prompting concerns that queues will build up, blocking major roads to the ports. 

The problems are likely to be particularly acute at Dover, which handles 60% of UK ferry traffic to Europe with 50 sailings a day.

Ferry companies have told the Home Office that family vehicles will have to join queues of lorries on the A20 and M20. Trials found “significant queues (of 650+ cars) will form on days when overall car numbers exceed 7, 500,” according to a letter from the UK Chamber of Shipping to MPs on the Home Affairs Committee. 

Mr Brokenshire played down concerns, saying he did not recognize the “extreme” stories about how the changes could impact travellers and insisted there were contingency plans ready. He said the government had been working with ferry companies and Eurotunnel for the last 18 months, and stressed that the checks were little different to those already carried out by airlines.

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Operators monitor Tunisia and admit 'tourists will think twice'

TOUR operators are closely monitoring the situation in Tunisia following Wednesday’s terrorist attack. 

One has admitted that some tourists would now ‘think twice’ about going to Tunisia.

At least 23 people were killed in the shooting at the Bardo Museum in the capital Tunis, including at least 17 tourists. One British woman was among the dead, which also included tourists from Japan, Italy, Colombia, Australia, France, Poland, and Spain.

Thomson has cancelled excursions to Tunis for holidaymakers currently in the country, while Thomas Cook said it was monitoring the situation.

The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice has not changed following the attack.


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