Travel

What does the 'worldwide travel alert' mean for the average traveler?

Did you hear about the "worldwide travel alert" issued by the U.S. Department of State on Nov. 23? It's an admission that terrorist attacks are a possibility, something most travelers have come to terms with since the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. This was reinforced by the imposition of new security measures like the Transportation Security Administration, no-fly lists and a host of other measures.

The State Department's alert did not identify specific areas of the world. The take-home message was for international travelers to be alert, to register for the Smart Travelers Enrollment Program and to be aware of local events. That's all good advice. None of the correspondence indicates that you should cancel your upcoming holiday-season trips.

For further guidance, the Department of State lists country-by-country advisories on its website. These descriptions of local conditions in countries like Mali, Nigeria and Pakistan are more specific about the relative safety of travel.

For example, there are travel warnings in effect for Libya, North Korea, Iraq, Syria and a host of other unstable countries. In these country-by-country listings, the Department of State offers examples and dates of travel-related problems. For example, there are detailed examples of kidnapping and terror attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan. Travelers are urged not to go there and advised that U.S. Embassy personnel may not be able to assist in case of emergencies.

There are less-strident alerts for travel in Burkina Faso, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Again, the listings detail upcoming issues, such as election-oriented violence, health warnings -- about things like the Ebola virus or H1N1 flu -- or increased terrorist activity. In some areas, there are repeated admonitions to avoid political rallies and gatherings. There are always warnings to tune in to local media for updates.

Jon Callas pays attention to security and privacy in his job as chief technology officer at Black Phone, which provides secure phone calls and texting.

"I travel a lot. I missed the travel alert because I was traveling," he said in reference to the worldwide alert. "After I arrived in Hawaii, I read over the alert. Still, I don't know what the State Department is telling me to do, other than to be careful."

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Callas is sympathetic to government officials, though. "There was a horrible attack in Paris -- and that's not over yet, since they still are looking for some of the people involved. So, they feel obligated to warn us. But I don't see anything that's actionable here," he said.

John Parrott, the director of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, suggests that most travelers will not notice a difference due to the travel alert during the holidays.

"Security is going to be heightened," he said. "Still, the biggest challenge will be working with the infrequent travelers who choose to fly."

"It's just going to take longer to get through the airport," said Parrott. "Plan to arrive at the airport a full two hours before your flight," he adds. "And pay attention to the common-sense advice in the travel alert: Maintain your situational awareness and let other people know where you are.

"If you do make it through security quickly, take that time to buy a beverage or a souvenir," Parrott added with a smile.

In addition to the Department of State's travel website, The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office also provides comprehensive analysis on each country for overall safety and security, terrorism, local laws and customs, health and natural disasters.

Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based marketing consultant, serving clients in the transportation, hospitality, media and specialty destination sectors, among others. Contact him by email at zoom907@me.com. You can follow him on Twitter (@alaskatravelGRM) and alaskatravelgram.com. For more information, visit alaskatravelgram.com/about.

Scott McMurren

Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based marketing consultant, serving clients in the transportation, hospitality, media and specialty destination sectors, among others. Contact him by email at zoom907@me.com. Subscribe to his e-newsletter at alaskatravelgram.com. For more information, visit alaskatravelgram.com/about.

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