Global security expert reveals hotel dangers, tips on how to stay safe

The world is finally opening up to international travel again, but one security expert has warned things aren’t the same they were in 2019.

International travel is finally back with Aussies fleeing their homes to see the world again.

But one global travel expert has warned travellers things aren’t like they were back in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a standstill.

Adrian Leach, the CEO of World Travel Protection (WTP), a global travel risk management company that provides advice to insurance companies including the CoverMore group, said he was already seeing a sharp spike in travellers being targeted overseas.

“The reality is that whilst the leisure and travel industry has been on hold for 18 months to two years, so has the criminal element in those locations,” he told news.com.au.

“So we are seeing signs, particularly in the US when it opened up to neighbouring countries, you start to see the criminal element really take off.”

Adrian Leach, CEO of World Travel Protection. Picture: Supplied

Mr Leach said Aussies needed to let go of the idea that things had gone back to normal overseas, and instead be on high alert for not just Covid news but also anything that could put a dent in the travel dreams they’d waited two years to fulfil.

“They’re trying to make up for lost time,” Mr Leach said, referring to petty thieves.

“These groups - that’s their income. They’re used to large populations of travellers so you don't notice it as much and it doesn't affect everyone but now we've had small populations going in and they’re trying to make up for it. So the ratio is a lot higher and it’s a bigger risk for you.”

The pandemic has also heavily impacted people overseas - especially in developing countries that were heavily reliant on tourism.

In August, a Thai man who had lost his tourism job due to the pandemic killed a Swiss tourist after she fought back when he attempted to take her backpack.

“We take it for granted ... we live in a country with a welfare system, you think of JobKeeper and things like that we put in place,” Mr Leach said.

“It wasn’t perfect ... but if you go to developing countries ... Timor, Indonesia, even up into Thailand, the welfare system is not there to carry people through so it was a really difficult time.

“They would have had a job in hospitality or tourism and they’ve all gone and a lot of those people lived on tips, so they weren’t even paid by anyone in particular and that the income has been gone for an extended period of time, it wasn't like a few weeks.

“So they are desperate and many crimes have definitely lifted because of it.”

Kuta beach in Seminyak, Bali is reopen to tourists. Picture: iStock

Pickpocketing is back. Picture: iStock

Mr Leach was still collating crime data from around the world but said the WTP team had statistics that showed a sharp rise in the Caribbean region as oblivious Americans head south for a holiday.

“We’re suspecting (theft and petty crime) will happen elsewhere where there are the same ingredients,” he said.

“And we’ll watch Bali in particular, because that’s opened up to Europe so we’ll see ... it’s going to be something we watch and advise on ... our job is to enable you to go and do it safely.”

Mr Leach said WTP was working to “change the mindset” of people from highly developed nations including Australia, New Zealand, the US and the UK.

“They take a lot of things for granted and you just need to reset your thinking if you go to some of these pretty cool holiday destinations, you need to change your mindset slightly.”

Travellers from developed nations are the easiest targets. Picture: iStock

Mr Leach has a handful of tips for Aussies that are keen to get overseas.

“Every hotel has a safe but how many people actually use it? Relearn how to use the safe and put your stuff inside,” he said.

“And I hate them but use a fanny pack where you've got all your stuff in the front and in view.

“The pickpocketers like in Paris, they’re quite talented.”

WTP recently launched Freely, an app that advises travellers on where’s safest to go and how they can protect themselves in the process.

“(World Travel Protection) is sort of the backbone behind that providing intelligence that'll start feeding through to that app,” he said.

The team is also working on a website that lists each country and its Covid risk.

The website, due to go live in the next few weeks, will be updated every 24 hours, allowing travellers to get updated information on the Covid risk of the country they’re going to.