Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
17 July 2013 10:06
Many Britons would ignore Foreign Office warnings about unsafe destinations, according to research
More than half of Britons would ignore official advice against travelling to unsafe destinations if they had already planned their trip, research has suggested.
Some 53% said they would go ahead with their trip if they had already made up their mind to travel to a destination and the Foreign Office advised against going there.
Earlier this month the Foreign Office warned against all but essential travel to most parts of Egypt when political clashes followed the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi.
The latest research, by travel agent sunshine.co.uk, found nearly all Britons (91%) were unaware which countries were subject to travel warnings by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Three-quarters said they would not check the Foreign Office website before travelling to see if their destination carried a warning. The findings further underline the importance of worldwide travel insurance for those falling into these groups, as well as all other travellers.
Of the minority who would heed travel warnings and would cancel or delay their journey, "violent incidents and protests" at their destination - such as the current unrest in Egypt - was cited as most likely to deter them.
The next most frequently mentioned factor was warnings of "severe weather and natural disaster".
Chris Clarkson of sunshine.co.uk, which conducted the survey of 1,962 British adults, said he was "shocked" at the findings.
He said the Government issues travel warnings for a reason and advised people who want to remain safe and enjoy a hassle-free trip overseas to always check the Foreign Office website for advice and base their travel plans around what they find.
This should be part and parcel of the holiday bookings process, "especially for those planning to go somewhere off the beaten track". It is not often that popular holiday resorts will have warnings issued against them, but it is always worth checking just in case, he added.
19 February 2019
Hundreds of passengers have had their travel plans cancelled following the collapse of airline flybmi.
[more...]
16 February 2019
Holidaymakers were left fuming after a "lack of clarity" over Brexit led a Romanian airline to cancel flights from Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.
15 February 2019
British Airways celebrated Valentine's Day with a special flight where all members of the cabin crew were couples who work for the airline.
14 February 2019
The "concerning" level of stigma surrounding the human papilloma virus (HPV) could be putting some women off going for vital check-ups, campaigners are warning.
13 February 2019
Older people living with depression should be given better access to community activities and therapy instead of being prescribed antidepressants, researchers have urged.
12 February 2019
The Government has been criticised for failing to act on warnings about the link between processed meats and cancer, by the scientist who co-authored the original advice.
09 February 2019
A grandfather who has battled three types of cancer is cycling from Twickenham to Tokyo in time for the Rugby World Cup - all in aid of charity.
08 February 2019
Lovers of traditional fish and chips are embracing a more health-conscious version of their favourite food, a new study suggests.
07 February 2019
Two thirds of UK adults don't know they're able to lower their risk of developing dementia, new research has shown.
06 February 2019
More than 600 people a day are quitting their jobs to care for relatives, a charity has warned.
05 February 2019
Millennials in the US face an increasing risk of developing an obesity-related cancer, a new study has revealed.
02 February 2019
More than 100 people sought refuge at a pub high on Bodmin Moor overnight after heavy snowfall hit the A30, leading many stranded motorists to abandon their cars.