Are You a Standout Tourist Target?

When travelling abroad, how much do your actions place you in jeopardy?  Could a little more thought about how you are observed and perceived actually keep you safer?

These are key questions following a research survey conducted by Europesure Travel Insurance, a travel insurance provider of policies in English, for UK, EU, EEA, Monégasque and Gibraltarian travellers and British expats.

Nobody should seek to look like the equivalent of an Englishman in New York, all at sea when trying to find their way to their must-see landmark or place to visit.  Yet, only 17% of travellers always try to avoid using a map or phone on the street, so as not to signal that they are strangers in town. 31% sometimes do this but 21% haven’t thought to avoid looking vulnerable and lost. 14% do not think it necessary to take this precaution.

Good travel advice is always to try to blend in with the local community as much as possible when abroad, but only one-in-five of us actually try to do this.  32% sometimes make this effort, but 21.5% haven’t thought to and more than one-in-ten (11%) feel it unnecessary.

With so many destinations carrying a terrorism threat, Governments across Europe encourage citizens to pay attention to what is going on around them. Nevertheless, only one-fifth of travellers told Europesure that they always scan the local environment to stay alert to any potential issues or dangers.  32% only sometimes take this precaution.  The official advice is not getting through to 22%, who haven’t thought to keep an eye on their locale.  Worryingly more than 11% feel it unnecessary.

Flashing high-value gadgets around is something far too many travellers admit to doing.  Only 37% of travellers always avoid making it obvious what valuables they are carrying.  29% sometimes take this precaution but 13.5% have never considered keeping valuables out of view.  More than one-in-twenty (6%) feel it unnecessary to try to hide such items.

18% of travellers use their phone freely in public when overseas and another 39% sometimes do this.  Only 20% try to avoid attracting attention to their phone.  Nearly half of travellers (48.5%) would openly use their phone for translation purposes and, of these,16% always do.  Only 21% would not.  Meanwhile, 13% feel it unnecessary to worry about this.

Commenting on the survey results, Europesure Travel Insurance’s sales and marketing director, Paul O’Sullivan, says, “Too many holidaymakers are over-confident in the way they negotiate foreign neighbourhoods, whilst also paying too little attention to common-sense ways of protecting themselves and their belongings. 

“Whilst everyone should relax and enjoy their time away, there should also be a balance. Following some simple precautions can avoid travellers getting caught up in bad situations, whilst avoiding the distress caused by theft, pickpocketing, mugging and even hijacking and kidnap in some countries.

“What may seem like an everyday gadget in Europe can be something hugely valuable and desirable in a less affluent country.  By broadcasting wealth and flashing possessions, tourists can quickly become targets, no matter where they travel.  Best advice is always to try to be low-key, blend in, not draw attention to yourself and not put a target on your back.  2026 should be the year in which we all seek to avoid being standout tourist targets.”                                                                       

For more information about the travel insurance policies that can protect you, if injured in a robbery or mugging, or compensate for the theft of your possessions or baggage, visit www.europesuretravelinsurance.com

Both single trip and annual policies are available, with three different levels of cover on offer for each.  There are also useful add-on policies for the protection of gadgets and for terrorism disruption.  If carrying valuables in the form of cycles or golf equipment, Europesure also has add-ons for those types of possession.

Get the right travel insurance protection for you and your belongings and then make a concerted effort to not be a standout tourist target this year.

Ends

Editors notes

Europesure Travel Insurance is a respected travel insurance provider, offering a range of travel covers to residents of the UK, EU, EEA, Monaco and Gibraltar. With the added peace of mind of having policies backed by Lloyds of London, holidaymakers and travellers can gain peace of mind of knowing their cover will be comprehensive and ready to step in, to offer whatever level of protection was selected, in line with the policy wording and terms and conditions.