Latest news with #GlobalRescue
CNA
02-07-2025
- CNA
Fears over how Americans are perceived abroad dampen US travel enthusiasm
The summer travel season is in full swing – usually a time for carefree relaxation. But there are signs that travellers from the United States are packing something else in their luggage this year – anxiety about how they will be perceived abroad. According to a recent survey by risk management firm Global Rescue, 72 per cent of experienced American travellers believe they will be viewed more negatively this summer … due to policies coming from the White House. Toni Waterman reports.
Travel Weekly
21-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Israel reports that more than 20,000 tourists are still looking to evacuate
The Israel Ministry of Tourism says it has compiled a list of 22,000 tourists seeking to exit Israel in the wake of the ongoing war between the county and Iran. The ministry has created a digital form for tourists who wish to leave. According to the ministry, there are still 32,000 tourists in the country as of Friday, down from 40,000 at the start of the war earlier this month. The list of those wishing to leave Israel has been forwarded to the proper authorities. "Tourists find themselves in a situation of uncertainty and even distress amid an intense war,' said ministry director Danny Shachar. 'Some are staying here longer than planned, sometimes under difficult financial and personal circumstances.' Global Rescue has been working to evacuate visitors in Israel, with the travel services company's CEO, Dan Richards, encouraging travelers who wish to leave the country to do so soon. Some tourists are choosing to leave through Jordan and Egypt at land border crossings, the tourism ministry reported. Tourism halted Tourism is suspended in the country amid the war, with operators adjusting itineraries as needed. It is not clear when normal tourism operations could resume. The country's tourism has plummeted since militant group Hamas attacked the country on Oct. 7, 2023, starting an ongoing war. Israel's tourism was poised to begin recovery this year; the war that erupted earlier this month presents a setback to those plans. 'As long as the Iran war is going on, there is no tourism in Israel other than those that were here before June 12 and are trying to get out,' said Ronen Paldi, who lives in Tel Aviv and is president of Ya'lla Tours USA, a tour operator that specializes in the Mediterranean and Middle East. The Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv has been closed since June 12 with no reopening date determined. And even when the airport reopens, it is not clear when airlines could resume flights into the country. Delta Air Lines has suspended flights to Israel through at least Aug. 31. Reports say other major airlines have suspended flights, as well. According to Paldi, no tourist sites or attractions have been damaged by Iran's retaliatory missile attacks. ETS Agents, a faith-based operator that offers Holy Land tours, has relocated its Israel tour groups to Jordan and helped travelers return to the U.S. if requested, a spokesperson said. The operator said it is evaluating the conditions in Israel on a daily basis. Until tourism in the country resumes, the company is offering itinerary adjustments, alternative destinations and rescheduling.
IOL News
18-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Essential health tips for business travellers this flu season
The SA Medical Association shared a warning about rising flu cases across the country. For business travellers, this adds an important layer of risk to what might seem like a routine trip. Image: Ron AI IF you are a professional heading abroad for business this winter, there is more to think about than flights and meeting agendas. The SA Medical Association (Sama) recently shared a warning about rising flu cases across the country. For business travellers, this adds an important layer of risk to what might seem like a routine trip. It is currently winter, and South Africa is deep into its flu season, which, according to travel risk experts Global Rescue, is a key factor in increased health risks while travelling. Corporate Traveller, a division of the Flight Centre Travel Group, said in a statement that while respiratory infections were present across the globe, the likelihood of catching something would spike in places with poor air quality and during peak flu periods. 'And peak flu periods would change depending on where you're going.' In the Southern Hemisphere, including South Africa, flu season typically runs from April to September. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is most active between October and March, while in tropical regions, influenza can circulate all year long. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'So, if you're jetting off to attend meetings in London, visit clients in Nairobi or attend a summit in New York, it's worth checking what flu activity is like at your destination,' read the statement. Corporate Traveller said travel itself would already place a strain on the body. Long hours, less sleep, high stress levels, packed itineraries and prolonged exposure in crowded environments — like airports, aeroplanes and business venues — create the perfect storm for respiratory illnesses to spread. 'It's no wonder why so many people find themselves under the weather halfway through a trip, and in a worst-case scenario, seriously ill while far from home.' Herman Heunes, the general manager of Corporate Traveller, said he believed that this was a conversation companies needed to prioritise with staff before they leave. 'It's important to check in with travellers about their current health, whether they've had their seasonal flu vaccination and if they have any pre-existing conditions that might put them at higher risk,' he said. According to the Journal of Travel Medicine, individuals at increased risk of influenza would include those at the extremes of age and those who are immunocompromised. Heunes also emphasised the importance of having proper travel health insurance. 'We've seen how unpredictable international travel can be, especially when health is involved. Ensuring your employees have the right insurance in place is just step one. Encouraging open dialogue about their well-being is just as critical,' he said. It is also worth noting that flu vaccinations can provide significant protection, not just for the traveller, but for everyone they come into contact with abroad and back home. Health experts recommend getting vaccinated at least two weeks before departure to give the body time to build immunity. For those travelling to the Northern Hemisphere later in the year, a second flu jab aligned to that region's seasonal strains might even be necessary. When employees get sick mid-trip, the ripple effects can be costly, from cancelled or postponed meetings to extended accommodation and return delays. Companies that depend on their teams to represent them globally cannot afford to overlook these very real risks. As Heunes aptly put it: 'There's a human side to business travel that we must not forget. Your traveller's health isn't a personal matter alone; it's part of your duty of care responsibility to them.'
Travel Weekly
17-06-2025
- Travel Weekly
Israel-Iran conflict makes leaving Israel difficult
Since the war between Israel and Iran escalated on June 13, Global Rescue has been working to evacuate clients in Israel, and indications point to a shrinking window of time in which to do that, said CEO Dan Richards. He is encouraging those who wish to leave to do so soon. Meanwhile, the Israel Ministry of Tourism said it would help travelers register for departure flights. A digital registration form is being distributed to tour operators, hotels, tour guides and other industry stakeholders. The ministry of tourism said there are approximately 38,000 visitors in Israel. The form asks for the traveler's full name, phone number and email address. The ministry will consolidate the list in a digital vault and transfer it as needed to the National Security Headquarters and the Ministry of Transportation to coordinate flights, the ministry said. David Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv is currently closed. Richards said border crossings to neighboring countries Jordan and Egypt have been open periodically, as has airspace in those countries (Israeli airspace is closed). Global Rescue has been taking advantage of those options to get people out. "We urge everybody that wants to leave or that is concerned about escalation of the conflict to do it and do it now," Richards said. The beginning of the conflict was "intense," he said, followed by a moderation over the next 36 hours or so. In that time, Global Rescue was able to extract a number of clients. But over the last 12 to 18 hours there has been an "intensification," Richards said on Tuesday. "It's certainly not guaranteed that this window is going to stay open, and in fact we expect there to be a reduction and/or closing of this window in the not-so-distant future," Richards said. Richards said maritime evacuations are possible if Israel allows vessels to depart its waters. Global Rescue has experience in maritime evacuations in the Middle East. However, leaving via boat "is not going to be a pleasant alternative for anybody." In addition to helping extract clients, Global Rescue is supporting those who are opting to shelter in place. The company is a communications hub for those on the ground, the CEO said. It also provides physical help. For instance, a client group was in a bomb shelter when an Iranian missile struck nearby. They needed assistance clearing debris and rubble to get out. Global Rescue provides medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to companies, governments and individuals. "We try and find the best and safest methods of getting people from the places where they are to the places that they want to go," Richards said. To do that, Global Rescue employs an intelligence team to analyze publicly available information, as well as team members on the ground sharing proprietary information. Using a combination of those sources, Global Rescue finds the safest method to extract clients, or support them if they are sheltering in place. The work can be complicated, especially when factoring in border crossings. "There are all kinds of logistical considerations and potential problems that are present in prosecuting these kinds of odds," Richards said. Global Rescue employs people on the ground who are experienced in navigating volatile and dangerous environments, according to the CEO. Most are ex-military personnel with with experience in special operations.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Americans find ways to not be 'too American' while travelling
As Franck Verhaeghe and two friends planned a March trip to Mexico City, Mexico they plotted out not only where they would stay and which museums they would visit but also the language they would speak: French. 'It's not that I think it's unsafe for Americans,' said Verhaeghe, 65, who lives in California, the United States, but '... I can imagine people there aren't very happy with us. 'So my friends and I decided that on this trip, we would all just speak French to each other.' Two months into his second term, US president Donald Trump has set off panic in Europe about the potential collapse of alliances; inspired boycotts of American products in Canada; heightened tensions between Denmark and Greenland over the island's independence; and prompted protests in Istanbul and Panama over the possibility of US territorial expansion. His proposals are also making some Americans reconsider their travel plans. Behaviour adjustments Since the inauguration, some agencies are noticing a drop in sales for international travel by Americans. Tour operators are fielding inquiries from customers concerned about how they will be received abroad. The risk management company Global Rescue recently conducted a survey that found that 72% of 'experienced' US travellers expected Americans to be less welcome abroad this year. The nervousness does not seem to have translated into widespread cancellations, but social media and travel forums are filled with Americans asking variations of, 'Will they hate us?' Christine Bauer, a retiree from New Hampshire who is planning a trip to France, asked travellers on a Rick Steves' Europe forum for insight into how the French were responding to American foreign policy changes. A few days later, she grew more worried when 'Trump and Musk began insulting NATO and allied countries'. She and her husband haven't made any changes 'at least for now', but they are 'hoping that travel doesn't become more unsafe'. Vicci Jaffe, 68, has second thoughts about an excursion to Berlin, Germany this fall. Her concern stems not only from the rise of the far right in Germany, but also from political changes at home. 'How will I be regarded while in Berlin?' she asked. 'At the very least, I am embarrassed, but also now afraid of retribution or violence.' Some people, including Verhaeghe, who is travelling to Mexico using his second passport (it's European), are adjusting their behaviour. Cheryl Carlson, 63, an educator in Chicago, Illinois, plans to reveal her nationality ahead of time to the owners of the accommodations she and her husband will be staying in during a trip to Canada. This is '... to make sure our presence would not cause a small business to feel uncomfortable hosting us.' Peter Serkian, 60, who travels to Canada twice a month from Michigan, pays in Canadian dollars, not US dollars. 'I try to hide that I am an American,' he said. Feeling spooked Those measures are preventive – none of the interviewees for this article have actually experienced anti-American sentiment. But the nervousness is taking its toll. Cameron Hewitt, content and editorial director for Rick Steves' Europe, has seen a dip in guidebook sales, 'literally starting the day of the inauguration', he said. Lisa Wirth, owner of Ataxito which offers tours to Oaxaca, Mexico, said that some prospective guests are feeling spooked. 'We had several American travellers decide to cancel a week-long tour in February, either because the travel partners they had planned on travelling with backed out due to concerns regarding safety in Mexico or because the current administration and their anxiety around it caused them to pause any trip decisions in the short term,' she said. Others are postponing because of 'concerns regarding inflation and job losses'. Jack Ezon, founder of Embark Beyond, a New York-based luxury travel company, had a client cancel a trip to Mexico. 'They were doing a birthday trip and had booked out the whole hotel,' he said. 'But this was right after the whole tariff thing, and their security team said, 'Don't go, there's anti-American sentiment, it's going to be too dangerous'.' That fear has not been borne out in the experience of other clients, said Ezon, who added that bookings to Mexico have rebounded. And sales to Europe are booming. 'Ever since Covid-19, the recovery from crisis is a lot faster,' he said. It's hard to pinpoint the cause for travellers' unease. Plane crashes, tariffs and stock market instability have contributed, said Jeff Roy, executive vice president of the tour company Collette. 'We've been a little bit behind for the last four to five weeks from what we were producing last year at this time,' Roy said. 'There's so much swirling around right now, it's really hard to know exactly what's causing the change.' What Roy describes as 'mild trepidation' is playing out more in nervous calls than in cancellations. And because many bookings are made far in advance, he's not too worried about this year. If the uncertainty continues, he said, 'I don't know about 2026.' Apparently, lots of people wanted to know more about Greenland after Trump announced that the US wanted to 'buy' the territory. Unexpected interest A few destinations have experienced increased interest since Trump took office. After he said that he wanted the US to 'buy' Greenland – one of The New York Times' '52 places to go in 2025' – the Greenland tourist authority said it was seeing evidence of 'piqued curiosity about the destination'. The new attention has had a similar effect on Panama, whose canal Trump has said he wants the US to 'reclaim'. Carlos Ivan Espinosa, the owner of Panama Canal Tours, said his company has experienced a significant increase in bookings by US tourists. 'Trump's declarations,' he said, 'are awakening curiosity.' That isn't to say there haven't been protests against American rhetoric, notably in Canada, where citizens have objected to Trump's tariffs as well as his expressed desire to turn the country into 'the 51st state'. But those protests aren't directed against American individuals, said Donna Salter, a retired journalist in Vancouver. She, like many Canadians, is swearing off travel to the US for the duration of this administration but welcomes Americans. 'We love Americans and we also love the American dollar, especially now,' Salter said. Not all foreigners are receptive. One TikTok user in Scotland told 'MAGA tourists' that they are not welcome, and a farmer on the Danish island of Bornholm terminated an agreement he had with a US travel agency to receive tourists in his home for coffee and a chat. Panama has experienced a significant increase in tour and hotel bookings from Americans. — Photos: Pixabay 'I would feel ridiculous if I had to discuss democracy with representatives of such a government,' Knud Andersen, the farmer, told the Danish broadcaster DR. On a trip to Italy, California-based Rebecca Andersons and her family had a taxi driver whose criticisms of American politics started with former US president Ronald Reagan and ended with Trump. Andersons told him they were 'too young to vote for Reagan and actually are Californians who voted for Harris'. Apparently forgiven, they later found themselves singing along with the driver to Volare. Other Americans are adopting tactics designed to deflect criticism, like answering the question 'Where are you from?' with their state's name. Sue Rook Nichols from California ordered buttons off Etsy that read, 'I didn't vote for him.' She plans to wear them on a trip to Europe. The tactics may not be necessary. Mariana Hamman, who owns a tour agency in Mexico, said that none of her colleagues had reported encountering anti-American sentiment. 'Sometimes you see 'Go home, gringo' graffiti,' she said. 'But that's about overtourism, not politics.' When David Rojas-Klein, of California, travelled to Mexico recently, his expectation that he would 'see something anti-American' never materialised. 'What I learned was that people make a distinction between the American people and the American government.' The fear that people in other countries will equate them with their politicians' actions is a peculiarly American anxiety, one that also surfaced during the Gulf War, said Hewitt of Rick Steves' Europe. 'If you look at history, most European countries have had experience with a ruler who, especially in retrospect, they're not particularly proud of.' Bo Albertus, a 57-year-old school principal in Denmark, agrees. He administers a Danish Facebook group, 89,000 strong, that is dedicated to boycotting American products. But American citizens are welcome in his country, Albertus said. 'The Danish people don't have a problem with Americans. We have a problem with the American administration.' Even a tourist in a MAGA hat would be treated fine, he added, 'Because in Denmark, we have freedom of speech.' – LISA ABEND/©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
