The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, today presented the annual #ViajaSeguro campaign that the Ministry launches every summer so that citizens can enjoy a safe and peaceful holiday if they have chosen a destination abroad.
In a video addressed to the public, the Minister offers five practical tips for informed and safe travel: 1) consult the travel recommendations provided on the Ministry's website, 2) take out travel insurance, 3) register with the Travellers' Register, 4) respect local laws and customs, and 5) save the consular emergency telephone number of the embassy or consulate of the destination country.
Informed travel
The first recommendation is to be informed about your destination. Through the Ministry's website, citizens can access the
Travel Recommendations
, containing useful information for each country, such as the necessary travel documents, vaccinations and safety conditions. This is constantly updated with information provided by the Spanish embassies.
There are also practical recommendations to help travellers who have chosen this country as their destination. Albares also stresses the importance of being informed about the legislation and customs of the chosen destination, as each country has its own rules and respecting them is key to avoid legal problems or cultural misunderstandings during your stay.
Travel safely and with insurance
Security is another key factor. Before going abroad, the Minister also recommends that you register your details in the
Travellers' Register, an entirely free tool which, with full confidentiality guaranteed, makes it easier for the Spanish authorities to locate or contact, where possible, registered Spanish travellers in the event of a serious emergency (natural disaster, armed conflict, etc.).
Emphasising safety, Albares reminds us of the importance of always taking out travel insurance that covers potential expenses arising from multiple incidents: from flight cancellations or suspension of transport services in the destination country for varying reasons to medical care needs as a result of health problems or accidents, as well as hospitalisation and medicalised repatriation costs.
Having travel insurance facilitates the necessary care in such circumstances, which in some countries can be extremely expensive.
Consular offices
Lastly, when necessary, the Minister explains that the Spanish consular offices distributed throughout the five continents handle any emergencies that may arise. When abroad, all Spanish citizens have the right to make use of the services offered by their consulates within the framework of their remit: a 24-hour emergency telephone number, emergency assistance to issue laissez-passers and provisional passports, assistance to victims of gender violence, and consular protection in general.
Saving the consular emergency phone number for embassies and consulates, and following official social media accounts, is also extremely useful for receiving urgent alerts in real time.
-NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-