It is better known for its ancient temples, beautiful beaches and
mouth-watering cuisine, but Thailand is also the deadliest destination for
British holidaymakers.
As millions prepare to flee a British summer that has been at best lukewarm,
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office published figures yesterday showing the
countries where Britons are most likely to seek help from their embassy.
Unsurprisingly, Spain, which attracts about 14 million Britons a year, tops
almost every category for holidaymakers in peril. But when the figures are
adjusted to show the proportion of travellers affected, Thailand is by far
the most dangerous.
Australia and India, also favourite backpacking destinations, are ranked
second and third for the ratio of British visitors seeking “serious
assistance” - where more than advice is needed. Britons are also most likely
to lose their passport Down Under.
Perhaps surprisingly, Britons are arrested at a higher rate in the United
States than in any of the other ten countries where they most need a British
embassy for help.
The Foreign Office said that the Thailand figures, for April 2005 to March
last year and released in British Behaviour Abroad, showed that “although
Brits are getting more adventurous, they are not doing enough preparation
before they go”.
The 381,000 who travelled from Britain to the SouthEast Asian kingdom were
nearly five times more likely to die than those visiting the second
deadliest - India. They were also 50 per cent more likely to be taken to
hospital in Thailand than in second-placed Greece. About 24 out of 10,000
Britons needed serious assistance from a consulate in Thailand, double the
rate of those visiting Australia.
Travel agents said that the problems arose from cheap flights and
underprepared travellers. A spokesman for the Association of British Travel
Agents said: “The majority of people travelling to Thailand are
back-packers. They often travel uninsured and stay in cheap accommodation.
If you’re travelling like that for an extended period you are more likely to
end up with a problem.”
One staff member of the British Embassy in Bangkok, who wished to remain
anonymous, said: “The embassy is having to devote more and more resources to
these kind of problems. But we can’t send away British citizens who need
help.”
The Czech Republic has become a surprise addition to the destinations where
Britons most often encounter problems. The report says that it features “as
one of the countries where most consular assistance is required, with a
disproportionate number of lost passports, arrests and hospitalisations.
This is likely to be due to the massive influx of hen and stag parties to
Prague.”
Britons in search of cheap alcohol are the second-biggest group of visitors
after Germans, said David Frous, of the Czech Embassy in London. “I cannot
deny that the number of potential problems relating to stag parties is
large,” he said. “But there are large numbers of UK nationals coming to the
Czech Republic, so as well as more good people, you get bad people too.”
But British diplomats said that most of their work involved dealing with
Britons who fell prey to petty crime. Peter Wickenden, second secretary at
the British Embassy in Prague, said: “A relatively small proportion of our
consular assistance is taken up with Britons causing trouble.”
Diplomats have been visiting brothels in the city, distributing Foreign
Office-branded beermats and posters warning British visitors against
“sobering up in a cell”.
Meg Munn, Foreign & Commonwealth Office Minister, said: “One of the most
important tasks for the Foreign Office is our work to help British nationals
in distress overseas. As this report shows, although some of the incidents
people face are unavoidable, many can be prevented with a little planning
and careful preparation. Simple precautions – like researching your
destination, getting comprehensive travel insurance, checking medical
requirements and taking copies of important documents – could help in the
long run to avoid common traumas, risks and dangers.”
We are all prone to hedonistic ideals when travelling and people visiting SE Asia tend to fall prey easily to those who want to take advantage. Good travel insurance is a must, but you should read the small print. From experience most companies will avoid paying out as best they can and put all their conditions in the small print. One of my biggest concerns is people who are acting recklessly and when asked they say 'Its ok, I've got insurance'. A broken leg is a broken leg, the fact that the treatment is covered will not make it hurt any less. Insurance is not body armour. The embassies do their best to help, but there must be some level of personal responsibility when people travel.
Simon Sweet, Bangkok,
I have spent 15 years living and travelling in Asia - I have to say that after living in Bangkok for the last ten years it is generally far safer than the infamous British Saturday Night - a pint and a fight!
Those that get into trouble are often advertising their newby status and flaunt their assets - i.e. they don't work out curriency exchange rates, don't carry their cash in a secure manner and stray from the beaten path at inappropriate times.
From what I can gather there is more problems with westerners attacking westerners - that's the real issue
Anthony Edwards, Chonburi, Thailand
"They often travel uninsured and stay in cheap accommodation. If you’re travelling like that for an extended period you are more likely to end up with a problem.†HA! HA! HA! Spoken like a true travel agent. Spend more money folks and you won't have any problems. Let's do all bus package tours from now on! Safely behind glass!
The above statement is just too simplified. In many cases it comes down to individual behavior and silly risk taking and no insurance or paying 5 times for your room can protect you from that.
Guido, La Linea,
If people just take some simple precautions and remember not to let their guard down things would be so much easier..If 3 girls go out and they all get drunk who will take care of them? Have a designated "returner home".
emily, Thessaloniki, Greece