Understanding State Department Travel Alerts

Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.

The State Department's web site
explained that a travel alert
is issued for short-term events
like political demonstrations
or a health issue- the H1N1
outbreak.

The State Department issues
travel warnings "when we want
you to consider very carefully
whether you should go to a
country at all." A travel warning
might be issued for a country
in the middle of a civil war,
on-going violence or frequent
terrorist attacks. "Travel
warnings remain in place until
the situation changes," the
State Department. "Some have
been in effect for years."

Usually, travel companies, tour
companies and travel agencies
will follow the advise of a
travel alert or warning at
first. In the case of Egypt,
travel companies worked to
get their clients out of the
country.

Tour companies are starting
up trips to Egypt again while
the State Department's travel
warning is still in effect. In
an attempt to re-start tourism
business, tour operators will
collect their own intelligence
about whether it is safe to
return to a destination, give
clients that information and
let them decide.

"Our decision to head back to
both Egypt and Tunisia came
after extensive meetings with
our ground operators, community
leaders and tourism officials,"
Alan Lewis, chairman of Grand
Circle Corporation, which owns
the travel brands Grand Circle
Travel and Overseas Adventure
Travel.

Source: http://newsblaze.com/story/20110321072452writ.nb/topstory.html