Phillipa Stroud Deputy Head of the Travel Advice team spoke at the ABTOT Forum about how the FCDO creates their Travel Advice.
Please see her response to several Members questions.
How can tour operators share feedback with the FCDO about a country’s specific Travel Advice
Our main concern is always the safety of British nationals.
Tour operators and industry bodies play an important role in helping the FCDO maintain accurate and uptodate Travel Advice – we welcome your feedback.
All feedback is considered alongside other sources as part of the FCDO’s ongoing review process, ensuring Travel Advice remains accurate, impartial and focused on risks to British nationals.
Feedback is most useful when it is specific and evidence-based, such as operational insights or verified conditions on the ground.
We recognise that Travel Advice can sometimes affect businesses and international relations, however, these considerations do not influence our advice, which is based solely on an objective assessment of risk.
Can specific reference to transit be included when advising against all but essential travel?
Travel Advice is risk-based and location-specific, sometimes we will include references to transit in third countries if the likely route of travel is through a location where we advise against travel. If there are areas excluded from advice against travel in a location e.g. airside transit or major highways, this is always clearly set out.
Where appropriate, advice may:
- distinguish between different regions, routes or transport methods; and
- clarify where certain types of travel (for example, airside transit or specific routes) present a different level of risk.
Decisions on whether to include transit-specific wording are made case by case, based on the risks to British nationals.
Query on Portugal Travel Advice (children aged 17 and under travelling to Portugal alone, or with a person who is not their parent or legal guardian, must carry a notarised letter of authorisation)
We will review this feedback to determine whether a Travel Advice update is required.
ABTOT members can share feedback via members@abtot.com, who will pass it to the FCDO.