Page 47 - INTERNATIONAL SOS PR REPORT JANUARY 2024

1/10/24, 4:50 PM Global travel resurgence brings heightened security risks, says International SOS - Defence & Security Middle East
Michael Rogers, Chief Security Analyst at International SOS,
expressed his concerns, saying, “The resurgence in global travel
comes at a time in which the travel security landscape is
increasingly complicated by geopolitical events, natural disasters,
and other developments. More and more, organisations are
finding comprehensive risk mitigation strategies for their mobile
workforce to be of the utmost importance.”

Today, more than ever, travellers need to remain informed of
prevailing risks and attendant mitigation measures. Beyond
geopolitical issues and natural disasters, emerging diseases, social
unrest, and evolving crime dynamics require that travellers practice
vigilance. Across a series of concurrent and overlapping crises,
International SOS observed a 16% increase in the volume of
security and medical alerts issued to clients throughout January to
November this year compared to the same period in 2022. The
considerable increase illustrates both the evolving global security
environment and the value of timely and verified information and
analysis as a key resource to ensure workforce safety.

The impact of climate change, including extreme weather events,
natural disasters, and environmental changes, also poses an
additional layer of risk to global travel and is proving to be
increasingly disruptive. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change stated that within the next two decades, temperatures are
likely to rise by 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and we are likely
to see a multitude of unavoidable climate hazards globally.

Natural disaster-related reporting accounted for 20% of
International SOS’ medical and security alert volume in the months
of July and August this year. This is a 5% increase compared to the
same period last year. These months fall within the peak of
hurricane and tropical cyclone season, highlighting the increased
risk of natural disasters during this time.

Michael Rogers emphasised the importance of climate change
preparedness, stating, “With climate change exacerbating existing
travel risks, it is important for organisations to have robust and
integrated health and security travel policies that safeguard
employees from potential impacts of climate change during
travels. Additionally, encompassing the ISO 31030 standard in
organisations’ policies provides a framework to ensure
preparedness for a changing travel security landscape and to be
better placed to mitigate increasingly complex travel risks.”

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