“Every gap year student should have some skills training to help them travel in a more sensible and informed way. There are very few things in life that we expect to go off and do with no training, so why do we assume that travelling in the developing world can be achieved without preparation?”

Charlotte Hindle – author of Lonely Planet’s ‘Gap Year Guide’

Friday, 23 October 2009

Two men jailed for raping backpacker


To view the original article Click Here

Title – Two men jailed for raping backpacker
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 23rd October 2009

I wanted to put this article into the blog because it sometimes feels like I write about all the dangers independent travellers face all over the world as if somehow we live in a perfect country and are surrounded by cotton wool where nothing bad ever happens.

The world can be a dangerous place and through Our Workshop we look to provide ways to reduce the risk where ever you find yourself. However just as there are unfamiliar dangers when you travel abroad, there are equal dangers for those visiting our shores.

This devastating experience for a New Zealand backpacker visiting London sadly reflects on the most vile element of our society and should humiliate our country where a visitor has faced such a depraved attack.

Dangers can occur anywhere in the world but it should never stop us travelling and expanding our horizons and we have to emphasise that the majority of independent travellers experience no serious incidents during travel.

Taking precautions does not mean that you are immune from danger, but taking risk reduction measures does just that; it reduces the risks through awareness, proactive actions and positive decision making.

At
Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Travel Health, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.

Please visit our website at
www.safegapyear.com. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

For more information on any of our services, please call us on 0845 602 55 95 or
Contact Us.

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