Travelling overseas: Advice on COVID, war and conflict as Australian Seniors releases 2022 Travel Trends report

The had gone to Fiji and the USA as COVID restrictions began, but returned before the borders closed. Their last vacation was a driving holiday to Far North Queensland in December 2020, as restrictions began to lift.

Because of international restrictions and renewed waves of the disease, they didn't travel at all in 2021. This year, Shirley was diagnosed with breast cancer, so her treatment took priority. But now they have two cruises booked before 2022 is over, then a trip to Normandy, a holiday in Victoria, and some time in Phuket next year.

But they're not just jumping without any sense of caution; they have taken out an annual multi-trip insurance policy to cover themselves, just in case they need to lean on it.

"We almost always pay for our travels with a platinum Mastercard that comes with automatic travel insurance - but that is somewhat limited, and so we also have a specific travel policy as well (COTA multi-trip)," Graham said.

"I am a type-II diabetic that is automatically covered by the policy, but Shirley's breast cancer is specifically excluded. That is not unexpected, but should not impact us because all other health-related issues are covered."

Similarly, Graham got nosey with the fine print with choosing their policy - one that included Europe, Asia and the US, but also includes cruises, particularly as Medicare might not necessarily cover for vessels at sea - even in Australian waters.

While they are still keen to travel, risks from issues including COVID is making them consider carefully where and when they will travel.

"Shirley's cancer diagnosis was something of a reminder to travel while we are still able - there are no guarantees of health going forward," Graham said.

"We are only in our sixties, and hope to have decades of experiences ahead of us - but it was a reminder that things can change, and change rapidly."

Australian Seniors has released a white paper surveying more than 1000 Australians over 50 that discusses how the travel landscape is changing post-pandemic, with a specific focus on the effect of global events, the uncertainty they have created, and how this impacts destination preferences.

Among the findings, most people surveyed were skeptical about planning their next holiday, including worrying about getting COVID overseas (54 per cent) and being put off to visit certain locations, including Eastern Europe due to the war in Ukraine (74 per cent). Three in five respondents (58 per cent) said they were more likely to consider travel insurance now than before the pandemic.

The full white paper can be found here.

Associate Professor in tourism at the University of Queensland, Gabby Walters, said reading the fine print in each policy you consider taking, from travel insurance to cancellation policies - were important, because all companies have different clauses. Her tips for navigating COVID protocols, catching COVID overseas or right before a holiday, dealing with other general health issues, war and other conflict and extreme disaster were simple.

"First and foremost, travellers should familiarise themselves with the Australian Government's smart traveller website - smarttraveller.gov.au. This website has important advice and travel tips for all kinds of situations that travellers may find themselves in while travelling including illness, disasters and crises and of course COVID-19 protocols. This site also has up to date travel warnings regarding every outbound travel destination which can be very useful when planning travel," she said.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"Before travel, it is a good idea to arrange copies of important documentation such as passports, travel insurance documents, COVID vaccination certificates, medical prescriptions, bank details, credit card details, tickets and itineraries with a trusted friend or family member in case these are lost, stolen or in extreme disaster cases, destroyed. This will be very helpful if needing to seek Australian consular advice or assistance with return travel."

She offered advice to travellers for different circumstances below:

Gabby said travel insurance is essential for those seeking cover for COVID or other illnesses while overseas, but stressed the need to read the small print very carefully as there is a lot of variability relating to COVID cover. In particular, those who are over a certain age with co-morbidities or existing chronic health issues need to be extra cautious as they may find they are exempt from certain kinds of cover and may struggle to attain travel insurance at all.

Also, travellers should familiarise themselves with the health sectors of the countries they plan to visit, as the level of care may be different to that found in Australia.

"Travellers in some countries may need to pay for their medical treatment upfront and understand that unlike Australia, hospitals may refuse to treat you, irrespective of how sick you are. Contact your travel insurance immediately and ensure you have the emergency contact for that particular country or region at hand," she said.

If someone gets COVID just before they depart, there are ways they can cover themselves without losing money for the trip. For example, airlines have offered passengers the chance to postpone or change their flights for COVID-related reasons, but this is changing.

"Booking the lowest price airfare may be risky as these fares generally have strict conditions around flight changes and cancellations. A fully flexible fare, although more expensive, may pay off in the long run should travellers find themselves COVID positive just as they are about to travel. Accommodation facilities will also vary in terms of their cancellation policies - again read the small print and best to pay that little bit more for a flexible agreement and peace of mind," Gabby said.

If someone gets sick for any reason while travelling, the Australian government has a 24 hour consular emergency centre that travellers can call from anywhere in the world +61 2 6261 3305. Consular staff can provide a list of hospitals and English-speaking medical professionals located at any destination. Using resources on Smart Traveller will also help.

While checking Smart Traveller for any conflict is a good idea in the first place, Gabby said history show events such as terrorist attacks and political unrest aren't necessarily planned. If someone found themselves in a conflict zone, she advised for people to get to safety and contact family and friends so they know you're OK.

Stay informed by listening to authorities, tuning in to social and traditional media - most televisions allow viewers to access sub titles in a number of languages - and if applicable, listening to your tour guides, hotel staff, other tourism operators that speak English.

"Always take official warnings seriously," she said.

Smart Traveller also sends emails and text messages, which people can subscribe to receive, about such events.

Also, stay vigilant - if there's still an active terrorist threat, be aware in places known to be possible targets. This can include public transport, shopping areas, places of worship, sporting venues, airports and other transport hubs and popular tourist attractions.

"If the Australian Government advises travellers to leave, then it is best to take their advice as they may not be able to assist further if travellers decide to stay," Gabby said.

Working out what is a genuine threat to you and what is a localised issue can be difficult, particularly with sensationalised media coverage.

"For example, a small section of France may be experiencing bushfires but in the Australian media, given how far away we are, this may be referred to by the media as the 'France Bushfires'. If someone was going to Paris, and Paris is nowhere near the impacted region, this news coverage may indeed deter someone from travelling unnecessarily," Gabby said.

Her advice in this situation is as follows:

"If the destination is impacted by crisis or disaster, then it is probably wise not to travel at that time. Consider changing your itinerary or postponing the trip until things improve," she said.

Before you leave Australia, check what your mobile phone provider's international roaming policy is and ensure it's in place before you leave. This can help stop nasty phone bills upon your return, and equally avoid you being cut off from home. Once at your destination, use free WiFi and online services such as WhatsApp, FaceTime and Messenger.

"One thing to consider when choosing accommodation though is the provision of WiFi - while it is becoming less common for hotels to charge extra for WiFi access, some still will and it is not cheap. There may be an opportunity with some of the larger hotel chains to access wifi for free in exchange for joining their loyalty program and this generally comes at no cost," Gabby said.

Despite the worries, Gabby would encourage someone to still travel, if they wanted to.

"Tourism participation enables seniors to maintain physical and social activities, that they may not necessarily engage in should they choose not to travel," she said.

"For example, travel requires a certain amount of physical exercise, contributing to healthy lifestyles and provides socialising opportunities that seniors are less likely to encounter in their daily lives. Also, research tells us that travel and tourism is regarded as a significant contributor contributing to a high quality of life."

She recommended anyone who is experiencing anxiety or concern about travelling, particularly after COVID, to consider a holiday in Australia before venturing overseas.

"This will enable travellers to ease back into the travel and touring scene without the added complexities and worry that comes with travelling abroad at the current time," she said.