British backpackers see Australia as safe bet
Gap Year Brits think New Zealand and Australia are safe travelling options
Travel Insurance News - 05/10/2009
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Many young British travellers, including gap year students and backpacker travel insurance customers tend to view Australia and neighbouring New Zealand as safe bets for travelling, says the founder of a specialist travel firm.
Marcus Watts, of the Gapforce firm has said that young British travellers see both New Zealand and Australia as being similar to their home country, and tend to think of these countries as a safe travel option.
He said Brits planning trips to these two countries tend not to ask too many questions, believing that the countries pose less risk, because they are so similar to the UK. He adds that most young Brits heading to Australia or New Zealand tend to be more concerned with the remuneration they may receive.
Watts has advised that taking a gap year through an organisation is the safest way to go, and has cautioned young Brits to seek counsel from experts before embarking on these trips.
New Zealand's Prime Minister, John Key has recently ordered a comprehensive review of safety standards among adventure tour operators in the country.
The review was ordered after the Prime Minister received a moving letter from a British father, who had recently lost his 21-year-old young daughter. The young British girl, Emily Jordan, died in New Zealand while participating in an adventurous river boarding activity organised by a local tour company.
The concerned tour operator has since been ordered to pay 80,000 NZ dollars to the family of the girl, as well as a hefty fine of 66,000 NZ dollars.
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