Three-quarters of the Dutch travel unprepared
The Dutch make many trips abroad, but prepare less well. This is evident from research by NBTC NIPO Research, commissioned by it Ministry of Foreign Affairsn.
In 2016, almost 18 million foreign holidays were taken by Dutch people. 74% of the Dutch who go abroad indicate that they are not prepared. They do not inform themselves about necessary travel documents, vaccinations or the security situation on site. This means that the Dutch are increasingly getting into trouble abroad.
Last year, almost 1000 embassies, consulates or the ministry in The Hague provided assistance to Dutch people abroad, from traffic accidents, hospital admissions to missing persons. But the ministry also took action in 12 in the event of 2016 murders of Dutch people abroad.
The study also shows that the threat of terrorism is an important factor for 45 percent of Dutch people when choosing a holiday destination. Only then do health, crime, the political situation, the risk of natural disasters and the risk of traffic accidents follow.
Minister Koenders (Foreign Affairs): “You notice that people in these turbulent times need factual information and advice.” That is why the ministry can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on one central telephone number: +31-247-247-247. Koenders: “Exactly one year after the start of the new service, we can conclude that it is a great success. We help and advise about 3000 people a day. That way we are close to everything.”
At the same time, the ministry sees that travel advice is becoming increasingly popular. They were viewed 2,5 million times last year. That is a quadrupling in 2 years. An outlier was the travel advice to Turkey, which was consulted by 16 people alone on July 100.000, the day after the failed coup.
As of today, the ministry is joining forces with other organizations to more actively draw holidaymakers' attention to the importance of proper travel preparation. Together with, among others, Customs, the GGD and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, the ministry is launching the 'NL reist' initiative at the Vakantiebeurs. Even after that, the organizations will continue to work together to draw attention to proper preparation when the Dutch go on a trip.
Yes, 74% travel unprepared and as a result more and more Dutch people end up in hospital due to an accident or illness, are murdered or go missing.
At the same time, as many as 45% take into account a possible terrorist threat. So they don't go 'unprepared' so that could never be more than 26%.
This kind of annual research paid by the government (read: citizen) should be critically examined.
Depending on the question, I'm not surprised. I wouldn't be surprised if the survey asked:
– Do you inquire (for example with the national government, general practitioner, GGD, etc.) about vaccinations, the safety situation, road safety/legislation or travel documents?
No, we usually go to... Never any hassle, just book online and you're done. We then rent a car/scooter and that goes well.
– What puts you off?
Well, those bombs and stuff there in Turkey. It could easily happen at a station, airport or in your hotel/resort. No, better go to southern Europe.
People are naturally easily influenced by what they see in the news. Attacks are big news, frightening. That the chance that it will affect you is small, even smaller than that you will be injured or die here in the Netherlands (let alone in a country like Thailand) due to participating in traffic or contracting an illness or poisoning by one thing or another… well. If they move all terror news to page 12 old and in short news and instead report extensively and daily on all kinds of nasty traffic accidents, illnesses and other misery, then you can expect the numbers for “I'm going somewhere else because I don't want to die from a scary disease or traffic accident and that happens a lot there, not seen me” would go through the roof and the terrorist threat would go far into the background. It is the gut experience, diving into something is often too much effort / work. Just as one is not influenced by the exchange rate. It simply comes down to the image that is created by what people hear around them every day (media, workplace, chat with friends).
If I followed the travel advice, I wouldn't even be able to go home (Surin). Because there seems to be war here. I don't notice it myself, but Minister Koenders will know better.
So yes, I am also “one of those Dutch people” who is unprepared and irresponsible on the road. Going home, yes, but still…. Nevertheless, I believe that there are also Dutch people who are really stupid, but not in the numbers that the ministry would have us believe. Then again I'm not that stupid!
The most popular foreign holiday destinations of the Dutch in 2016 were in order: France, Spain, Germany and Italy. As far as I know, as a Dutch person you don't even need a passport for that. It is therefore not surprising that the Dutchman does not inquire about travel documents and certainly not vaccinations. Getting into trouble has only very much to do with not informing oneself, but more with coincidences, unexpected events and chance.
In short: the well-known cool…
In 2016, almost 18 million foreign holidays were taken by Dutch people.
As far as I can remember, the Netherlands has 16 million inhabitants.
That is called that the whole of the Netherlands was on vacation
and of that 2 million 2 times….
The Dutch economy is doing very well!
All weekends just across the border (Belgium, Germany) also count for me, it's not such a strange number. A weekend to your own mobile home in Belgium (maybe 10 or 15 times a year) does not have to be that expensive.
Reminds me of the time long ago of the Vakantieman Frits Bom. I still see people pointing out their holiday destination on the world map. I thought that most tourists are now quite smart about the matter. You can regularly read everything about all the pitfalls of Thailand here.