Recent protests on the streets of Hong Kong underscore the importance of awareness for international business travelers and tourists about civil unrest. Indeed, anyone concerned about international travel security for employees should pay attention. Good, bad, whatever the politics – as events unfolded in Hong Kong, peaceful protests that drew millions of citizens to the streets quickly evolved into a scenario of vandalism and police intervention. Civil unrest can occur anywhere, and peaceful protests can rapidly turn into something frightening and dangerous for anyone who might be a bystander or traveling through the impacted location.
Heightened awareness of current events can help business travelers and tourists navigate more safely in areas where protests and civil unrest are taking place. Because of the unpredictable nature of events that involve large crowds, advance knowledge about the type of unrest and the area where it is taking place can help travelers plan their routes and schedules accordingly. Civil unrest can also impact more than just the immediate area; it can cause disruption to wider transportation schedules and routes, which can in turn impact a traveler’s ability to get to meetings or other destinations on time.
IMG GlobalSecur plus FoneTrac: Awareness and Support for International Business Travel Security
Accessing reliable information before and during travel is advisable. Doing so helps travelers avoid attempts to interpret media reports in various language or try to evaluate fluid and potentially risky situations while in the midst of crowd activity. When planning a trip, travelers should seek information about planned large-scale events or travel advisories at their intended destinations, sourced from government databases or international security experts. Pre-travel briefings can help keep travelers informed, as can advisory bulletins provided as events unfold throughout their period of travel. Receiving as-needed updates can prove valuable for travelers seeking to measure potential scope of a situation and take appropriate precautions when necessary.
Our solution combines our award-winning travel security app, FoneTrac, with the backend support provided by IMG GlobalSecur. This means that your employees can access updates via their Smartphones, and both “push” and “pull” information to the IMG GlobalSecur team. While respecting employee privacy, our solution empowers your employees to know their security risks and to take action and, should they need help, reach out to the IMG GlobalSecur team for support. If you are an HR manager or executive, reach out to us today for a demonstration.