Seven of the most dangerous countries for travellers next year have been identified by an company that advises oil gas workers abroad.
Countries and regions that face both the highest level of political instability and where medical facilities are “almost non-existent” have been identified on a new interactive map for 2016 produced by travel security services firm, International SOS.
The countries that have been identified as having both “extreme travel security risk” as well as “very high medical risk” are areas which have been facing turmoil in recent months and years.
Syria, where RAF fighter jets from Lossiemouth have been making airstrikes on oil wellheads, is among the notorious top seven.
The list also includes Afghanistan, the troubled Gaza Strip, Libya and Yemen, as well as certain areas in the South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
It is the first time that International SOS, which bought Aberdeen-based offshore health specialist Abermed in 2009, has added travel security risk ratings to its annually published health risk map.
Described as the first integrated medical and travel security risk map for 2016, the interactive tool offers an overview of risks by destination to aid organisations and staff in mitigating the dangers of travel in oil and gas countries.
International SOS says that nearly one in three trips abroad are to countries with a higher medical or security risk rating than the travellers’ own home country.
Rob Walker, head of information and analysis at International SOS, said: “The reality is there are risks everywhere in the world. Understanding what those risks are, and then taking appropriate precautions is the best way to support your staff, enable business growth and deliver on duty of care.”
A recent Ipsos Global Advisor study found that reported that while 71% of senior executive travelers have experienced a medical problem abroad, only 15% assess adequacy of local healthcare before travelling.
Dr Irene Lai, Medical Director of Information and Analysis for International SOS, said: “We created the Travel Risk Map to help travellers align their pre-trip preparations proportionately with the risks they may encounter in a particular location.
“Even in countries with a low medical risk rating and state of the art medical services, travellers may still need assistance with language or navigating an unfamiliar health care system – both of which can be significant barriers to obtaining care.”
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