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However, with the FCO still assisting over 19,000 cases a year, covering everything from drug arrests to hospitalisation and lost and stolen passports, travel association ABTA has today published some tips for travellers to help ensure that they have a safe and enjoyable holiday:

1. Always purchase travel insurance at the time of booking your holiday to ensure you have cover eventualities such as cancellation and delays, medical expenses and loss of luggage.  Ensure the insurance that you take out covers the activities you plan to do – for example hiring a moped or quad bike may need extra cover.  Remember, most insurers won’t pay out if you injure yourself or others if you’ve been drinking alcohol.
2. Speak with your travel provider before you leave about health advice, local customs and laws of the destination you plan to visit, and follow the advice provided.
3. Ensure you have a valid passport and visa for the destination you are visiting.
4. Check the advice provided by the FCO on www.fco.gov.uk under the “Know Before You Go” section, to ensure you are aware of local customs of the destination you are visiting.
5. Don’t assume you can do the same on holiday as you do at home - be aware of local laws and customs such as drinking, taking medicines and appropriate dress.
6. Look on ABTA.com to find out more about the destinations you plan to visit.  ABTA works with destination Governments and Tourist Boards around key areas such as health and safety and sustainable practices. 

Victoria Bacon, ABTA Head of Communications said: “The FCO’s report shows that while they have dealt with fewer cases this year than in previous years, there are still too many holidaymakers getting into trouble while on holiday.  We want every holidaymaker to have a safe and enjoyable holiday so it is essential that they think before they travel about local laws and customs, take out appropriate travel insurance and use as much common sense abroad as they do at home.”

For further information contact:
Sean Tipton, Senior Press Officer, tel: 020 3117 0596,
Victoria Bacon, Head of Communications, tel: 020 3117 0515,
Out of Hours:  Contact the Duty Press Officer via pager: 07659 190 987
E-mail: press@abta.co.uk
Web: www.abta.com
Twitter: @ABTATravel

Notes to Editors
ABTA has been at the heart of travel for more than 60 years. Our purpose is to help our Members to grow their businesses successfully and sustainably, and to help their customers - the travelling public – have confidence in their travel experience.

The ABTA brand stands for expertise, reliability and fairness. These qualities are core to us. They ensure that holidaymakers remain confident in the holiday products that they buy from our Members.

We help our Members and their customers navigate through today's changing travel landscape by providing schemes of financial protection and a course of redress if something goes wrong; by raising standards in the industry and by giving guidance on issues from sustainability to health and safety; and by presenting a united voice to government to ensure the industry and the public get a fair deal.

ABTA currently has over 1,300 Members and represents over 5,000 retail outlets and offices. For more details about what we do, what being an ABTA Member means and how we're working at the heart of the industry to ensure that we continue to build confidence in travel visit www.abta.com.