Brits urged to watch for travel traumas

Britons travelling to Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia have been warned of the need to be vigilant for potential travel traumas and to make sure they have taken out travel insurance.

The warning from the Foreign Office office statistics show that there were 1,500 serious incidents in Africa over 2006, included 218 that required hospital treatment and 921 lost passports.

Meanwhile, in the Caribbean there were 427 incidents, while Brits travelling to India lost 144 passports.

It is thought that much of these travellers have been lulled into false sense of security by the fact that they are often travelling home to see family and feel they are familiar with the country.

The findings underscore that it is imperative that Britons take out travel insurance before embarking on their trips, Foreign Office minister Meg Munn said.

She said: "Even though you may be visiting friends or family abroad, you need to prepare thoroughly.

"Simple precautions like taking out comprehensive travel insurance, getting appropriate jabs and taking copies of important documents could help avoid common travelling traumas."

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