International travel is typical in global businesses. Reasons for business travel vary from landing new contracts, expanding in new regions, meeting new customers, outsourcing or importing raw materials overseas. First time business travellers are usually excited about business travel. The idea of going around the globe at the expense of the company and while on the job is gratifying to a lot of employees.
However, business travel does come with its own risks. Here are some of the most common ones that international travellers can come across with abroad:
Natural disasters and extreme weather – In 2018, the United States experienced devastating hurricanes and wildfires. Other countries were damaged by earthquakes and typhoons. While plenty of areas are still in recovery, difficult weather and extreme storms are expected to continue in 2019 at the same rate.
Epidemic and the return of diseases – In this busy world, it’s easy to forget about infectious diseases like Zika, Ebola and others that are found in certain countries. Business travellers must be wary of diseases found in their destination area and prepare accordingly.
Terrorism and attacks even in low risk areas– Countries that are once considered low-threat are experiencing increased rates of terrorist attacks. A perfect example of this are the UK and locations in Europe.
Growing traveler volumes and the rise of global mobility – Because of lower airline ticket prices and a better economy in the United States., more people are willing to travel locally, as well as overseas. This increase in masses is causing other risks to grow as well, for instance illnesses, traffic and overcrowding.
Political unrest – In South America alone, six countries are due to change power this year. Changes in the government, such as a new political party in office can sometimes cause political unrest and breed protests. Business travellers must become aware of the cultural and political energy in their itinerary.
The Benefits of Using eLearning for Travel Security Management Training
Due to uncertainties that employees face when their travel aboard, organizations have a responsibility to ensure that they are informed about the risks they could face and aware of the behaviours and conduct that can help keep them safe.
eLearning is the best way to reach employees who are about to embark on a trip abroad. Most organizations only have a small percentage of their population going on business trips and on separate occasions, so it’s challenging to pool a certain number of individuals to attend face-to-face training or workshop on Travel Security Management. With eLearning, managers can simply assign a course to specific individuals or groups using their LMS (Learning Management System). They can track progress, and check the learner’s knowledge and readiness to travel internationally.
Learning Methodology
eLearning courses on Travel Security Management are interactive training modules that focus on giving practical information to travellers so that they can recognize potential risks, learn how to minimize these risks, and know what to do in case an incident happens.
The course is designed to be accessible in multiple devices and separated into a series of modules, so learners can consume the information remotely and in their own time. It is made to encourage learner engagement, and promote interaction with high quality videos and case studies that can be customized according to the organizations context.
The employee’s readiness can be assessed in the middle or end of the course through short quizzes. The questions are typically in scenario-based format, which helps gauge their decision making skills in the face of risky situations during travel.
Because everything is automated, the progress of participants, their knowledge assessment, and their feedback on the course can be easily tracked and reported by the LMS. This feature enables managers to produce an audit trail that can help with compliance reporting.
Training Content
Travel Security Management Training needs to include all of the information that a business traveller will need in order to stay safe and secure while he or she is overseas. Topics in Travel Security Management Training courses include:
● Introduction to Travel Risk Awareness ● Preparing for Travel ● Cyber Security ● Air Travel Safety ● In-country Security Awareness ● Travelling as a Female
Introduction to Travel Risk Awareness
This topic covers the risks involved in travelling abroad and why training is important. It provides the learner an overview of topics within the course, the expected outcomes and how their knowledge will be assessed.
Preparing for Travel
This module discusses all of the requirements that a business traveller would need before his trip. This can be customised to include what paperwork, logistics and other steps need to be taken. For instance, certain countries require that visas be secured before the trip, while others allow foreigners to acquire a visa at the airport. Some countries require that they citizens get vaccinated against certain diseases prior to flying.
Cyber Security
This module focuses on the risks that come with using digital devices and services while travelling to different countries. For instance, employees on a business trip might want to connect to the airport’s free wifi service while he is on a layover. This practice is not safe, since other might be able to access his device and steal sensitive information.
Air Travel
This module covers airplane etiquette before departure, while in the air, and upon arrival at the destination country. It also includes safety tips in case of turbulence, hijacking, unplanned rerouting or crash landing. In-country Security Awareness This module provides information about moving around a destination safely, including detailed instructions on using various types of transport (i.e. car rentals, trains, Uber, taxis and local forms of transportation). It gives learners an idea how to behave and conduct themselves to stay safe, keep their belongings and lodging safe, and how to react in case of an intruder or mugging incident.
Travelling as a Female
This module may customized according to the customs of the destination country that involves women. For example, special attire for women needs to be worn in certain places in the United Arab Emirates. Some countries are considered high-risk for female travellers. Tourists in India are advised to practice safety precautions at all times, to avoid being mugged, bullied or rape.