Every question related to travel safety will never receive full answers, cover and concrete; There are too many variables. The factors that continue to change are also what makes traveling so interesting. You never know what to expect. Therefore it is important to prepare aspects that we can control, especially as women traveling alone.
First need to identify a comprehensive risk for travelers (without a certain order);
• Vehicle incident
• Criminal
• Violent attacks
• Health and disease problems
• Beach-related incidents such as RIP Tides
• API – Accommodation / nightclubs etc.
• Travel in the sea
These risks apply to male and female travelers. So what risks are more vulnerable? We believe two risks that have women’s travelers have the possibility of a decrease in victims of male fellow verses is;
• Criminal
• Violence (to enter sexual attacks)
Why is Criminal?
Very just the majority of criminals will try and focus on the ‘easy’ target that is felt. In general it is assumed that women will not try and fight and / or will be less able to defend themselves. Females are also easy targeted because the majority of women carry a wallet or bag that is much easier accessed by criminals.
Why is violence (including sexual attacks)?
The majority of violent attacks by men against women are often sexual. Some motivations for this attack come from personal complaints, control problems, and social disorders. Unfortunately motivation can also be pure opportunistic and deviant. Therefore it is very important for someone’s safety to eliminate this felt ‘opportunity’ for criminals.
There will always be exceptions to the rules, but now we have identified the two main topics that placing women’s travelers with a higher risk allowing now to focus our efforts to eliminate this increasing threat.
Why an increased risk for solo women’s travelers?
If a criminal or attacker will commit their crimes will most likely try and find a target that is alone without ‘backup’. Criminals are basically predators and will usually focus on ‘easy target’. Sexual predators can focus on women they consider will not have anyone immediately ‘lose them’ or check them.
Minimizing risk
To identify the main risk for women travelers and recognize these specific risks during solo women’s journey, we can adapt and minimize the opportunity to encounter this threat. This is the principal underlying the safety of travel. Identify threats or dangers early and prepare according to minimizing risk. The way is not to avoid travel, but only to prepare and adapt to traveling as a solo woman to maximize safety.
Prepare but don’t prevent it
Every traveler both men and women must be prepared before traveling. There are threats everywhere that can affect travelers – men, women, individuals or groups. Should this potential hazard prevent us traveling? Absolutely not! What should be done by the potential of this hazard is to motivate us as individuals responsible for our own safety, to prepare and educate ourselves before we go on our adventure.
The author is a co-founder of Explorer Travel Security. It is a dynamic and elite travel security company dedicated to the safety of travel and security of individuals, groups and businesses abroad. This is a full service company that offers customized training courses, executive protection, global rescue, elite travel insurance, and electronic tracking and security solutions.