Page 8 - CTM Travel Matters magazine
P. 8
| TRAVEL TRENDS
SAFETY NET
The Middle East is a contradictory mix of
low travel risk destinations and the polar
opposite. Understand the region and
prepare accordingly, advises James Bird,
Regional Security Manager at International
SOS and Control Risks
The challenges being faced Jordan and the Arab gulf states,
by a number of countries in, and particularly the UAE, Qatar and Oman,
neighbouring, the Middle East are remain not just viable but thriving
well-publicised. The issues in Syria and destinations for foreign visitors and
Iraq, for example, need little by way of have been virtually unaffected by the
introduction. The Middle East and its turbulence in the region.
neighbouring areas, however, are not
a monolith. Some countries that were Driven by the big three Gulf carriers—
once a major focus of international Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways
tourism - like Turkey, which sits as a – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha have
historic bridge between east and west - established themselves as three of the
have reportedly experienced downturns busiest airport hubs in the world. Major
in the numbers of international new terminal projects in Muscat and
visitors amid recent security incidents. Abu Dhabi, set for completion in 2016
Nevertheless, cities like Istanbul and and 2017 respectively, and a planned
Ankara, in addition to areas along expansion of Dubai’s second airport,
the Turkish Riveria, remain viable for Al Maktoum International, will likely see
business, leisure and ‘bleisure’ travel, air traffic figures in the region continue
provided certain fairly standard to grow.
measures are taken.
These measures include appropriate
choice of accommodation, a driver
who knows the city and has a reliable
vehicle, and a credible flow of
information to keep travellers abreast
of any developments, all carried out
in conjunction with profile-specific
assessments conducted for any
international travel. Indeed, despite
recent events, the most probable threats
to impact foreign travellers to Turkey are
either related to road traffic accidents
or medical issues – as with many other
destinations.
Turkey remains a strong state and one
where travel across the vast majority
of the country can continue with fairly
typical precautions. But what about
the rest of the Middle East? Not only
are some countries as or more secure
than they were in 2011, but some
have also maintained or improved on
world-class tourism and business-travel
infrastructure and facilities.
www.travelctm.co.uk
SAFETY NET
The Middle East is a contradictory mix of
low travel risk destinations and the polar
opposite. Understand the region and
prepare accordingly, advises James Bird,
Regional Security Manager at International
SOS and Control Risks
The challenges being faced Jordan and the Arab gulf states,
by a number of countries in, and particularly the UAE, Qatar and Oman,
neighbouring, the Middle East are remain not just viable but thriving
well-publicised. The issues in Syria and destinations for foreign visitors and
Iraq, for example, need little by way of have been virtually unaffected by the
introduction. The Middle East and its turbulence in the region.
neighbouring areas, however, are not
a monolith. Some countries that were Driven by the big three Gulf carriers—
once a major focus of international Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways
tourism - like Turkey, which sits as a – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha have
historic bridge between east and west - established themselves as three of the
have reportedly experienced downturns busiest airport hubs in the world. Major
in the numbers of international new terminal projects in Muscat and
visitors amid recent security incidents. Abu Dhabi, set for completion in 2016
Nevertheless, cities like Istanbul and and 2017 respectively, and a planned
Ankara, in addition to areas along expansion of Dubai’s second airport,
the Turkish Riveria, remain viable for Al Maktoum International, will likely see
business, leisure and ‘bleisure’ travel, air traffic figures in the region continue
provided certain fairly standard to grow.
measures are taken.
These measures include appropriate
choice of accommodation, a driver
who knows the city and has a reliable
vehicle, and a credible flow of
information to keep travellers abreast
of any developments, all carried out
in conjunction with profile-specific
assessments conducted for any
international travel. Indeed, despite
recent events, the most probable threats
to impact foreign travellers to Turkey are
either related to road traffic accidents
or medical issues – as with many other
destinations.
Turkey remains a strong state and one
where travel across the vast majority
of the country can continue with fairly
typical precautions. But what about
the rest of the Middle East? Not only
are some countries as or more secure
than they were in 2011, but some
have also maintained or improved on
world-class tourism and business-travel
infrastructure and facilities.
www.travelctm.co.uk
