News

Australian airports offer travel advisories via kiosk

June 11, 2003

SYDNEY, Australia -- Terrorism threats and global insecurity have sparked a new push to ensure Australian travelers get timely, accurate security advice.

An article in The Agesaid Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was in Sydney to launch a new government and travel industry charter, giving Australians access to the latest advisories from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Under the charter, travel agents booking trips and issuing tickets will give travelers the latest DFAT advice and tell them how to access it overseas. Downer also unveiled touchscreen information kiosks providing online access to DFAT travel advisories at Australia's international airports, the article said. The story did not discuss kiosk vendors.

Downer said the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in America and the Bali bombings meant international travel was now "characterised by uncertainty." "That uncertainty has generated an unprecedented demand for accurate, up-to-date and practical advice about security and related issues overseas," Downer said in the article.

He stressed DFAT travel advisories are risk-management tool for travelers. The new charter will help Australians, who take 3.5 million overseas trips each year, make responsible decisions.

"We want to encourage Australians to travel overseas, but we want them to do so safely and on the basis of the best advice available," he said.