THE TRUTH ABOUT TRAVELLING OR RELOCATING TO A NEW COUNTRY IS ABOUT TO BE REVEALED— Part 1
When people travel, there is always a reason why it is done, and leisure seems to be the main reason why people travel around the world especially during the summer. However, there are other people that travel for the purpose of relocating to start a new life. At Dartemuv, travel insight is one of the few things that keep us moving. We believe that the provided information might enable people to make better-informed decisions before embarking on any journey.
As our usual practice, we decided to involve other people to hear their views before making conclusions. From the responses we obtained, 83.6% of the survey participants showed positive interest in travelling, 8.2% were indifferent about travelling, while the remaining 8.2% see it as a burden but would not mind travelling only if it is compulsory.
While only 33.3% of the interviewees have ever travelled outside their home country before, they had all travelled within their own country at a point in time. Some of the reasons they stated for travelling includes, but not limited to; education, visit family and friends, attend a wedding and burial, work, etc.
Also, it was not surprising that few of the respondents that travelled out of their home country went to Europe and most of those that have not left the shores of their country plan visiting Europe as well. In the survey, we asked the survey participants to select a maximum of 5 countries that they would like to visit out of a list of 29 countries from all continents. Also, we gave them an option to either choose others or none in order to take all possible responses into consideration. In this category, the UK and Canada topped the list, followed by the US. Surprisingly, from the result obtained from the survey participants, the UAE and France both had the same score despite France consistently outranking UAE based on UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) annual international tourist arrivals. Those that selected Saudi Arabia stated pilgrimage as their reason for the choice of the country chosen which is quite understandable.
As expected by Dartemuv, while some respondents selected land as their preferred mode of transportation when travelling, 83.6% were fanatic of the aviation industry and cherished the idea of flying. Those that have travelled before, and those willing to travel in future admired British Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. They also would not mind flying with any of the stated airlines whenever they are required to travel. Since jet-lagged is often associated with moving across two or more different time zones (e.g. UK to Australia), many respondents reported not to have experienced it because different time zones do not apply when they travel, while the remaining few indicated not to have experienced it due to the often short time difference (1hr to 6hrs) between their country of departure and arrival (e.g. Germany to the UK).
They all had mixed reactions towards stopovers before getting to their final destination. The majority of the respondents were not comfortable booking a flight that would move from; Point A to Point B before getting to Point C. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the elderly were not interested in the possible adventures due to the stress. While some respondents felt indifferent about it, the others saw it simply as a way of multiplying their travel destination at no cost. It is an opportunity for them to cross several destinations goals off their travel bucket list for free even if they are only going to stay within the airport at Point B, and not permitted to enter the city due to the need for an entry visa.
‘Dartemuv suggests that Airlines need to constantly remind travellers about the dangers of contraband when booking their flight.’
When it comes to an item declaration before landing in a different country, we feel not everyone knows what to declare, except the very obvious items such as; drugs, guns, explosives, etc. The embarrassment often experienced could be avoided, and thereby making the work of the Immigration and Customs officers easier. So, what should be done? If the job of searching for undeclared items is left with the airlines to do before take-off, it is likely going to lead to unnecessary delays and there is no assurance that a thorough job will be conducted, and passengers will still face the same problem in the country of destination. Furthermore, Immigration and Customs officers might accuse airline staff of conniving with passengers to smuggle banned items into their country, and it could result in a penalty (fine or ban). This is why we still want the passengers to be responsible for their actions instead of the airline, but with support from the airline company.
Dartemuv suggests that Airlines need to constantly remind travellers about the dangers of contraband when booking their flight. This can be done as a pop-up notification when you are about booking or after booking, and this should be concise with no ambiguity. We believe, most airlines will prefer the latter to the former in order not to discourage prospective travellers from online booking.
Also, while booking online, airlines can include a place where you can type items you have doubt taking along your trip, algorithms should be in place to classify the items into either Good or Bad. It could even be pictures of items or search items based on the customers' local language (At least, it is now possible to have a very interactive website or app). With the large number of people living in poverty without food, it is quite appalling that food (meat, fish, etc.) is destroyed due to non-declaration. Based on the survey, none of the respondents have ever been fined. However, this does not mean that everyone gets away with it.
‘Also, we do not believe that airlines admire passengers to the extent of keeping them at the airport in order to see the rage on their faces.’
We were also interested in finding out about flight cancellation or delay, baggage tampering, and possible arrest in the host country. There is always a reason why people venture on a journey, most times, they plan their trip and expect no hindrances. While this is what we want, unfortunately, we cannot always decide how things will turn out. Flight cancellation or delay can be very frustrating, especially when you have a meeting to attend, or promised your kids to be at their games.
Also, we do not believe that airlines admire passengers to the extent of keeping them at the airport in order to see the rage on their faces. Oftentimes, something must have gone wrong, and this includes, but not limited to; bad weather, strikes, faulty aircraft parts, air traffic control restrictions, security clearance for take-off, waiting for catering, waiting for flight crew and connecting passengers, waiting for cargo and connecting bags, preparing the aircraft for the next trip (cleaning, refuelling, boarding, etc.), bird strikes, criminal or problematic travellers on board, etc. The safety and happiness of the passengers are paramount to an airline’s survival since it can affect its reputation and revenue.
Baggage tampering is another issue that makes customers go nuts. Although, based on the information obtained from the survey, most respondents claimed not to have experienced baggage tampering, and it is because only a few of them have ever travelled outside their country. Also, imagine a situation where your wedding dress or ring is stolen from your luggage, what do you do? Who should be responsible for the compensation?
The airline ground staff verifies the weight of passenger’s baggage, tag, and ensure it gets to your country of destination, without documenting the content. Also, Custom Officers simply carry out checks to ensure you are not moving banned items, but it is sometimes not thoroughly conducted. We could have suggested that customers should scan all items at the airport while being watched by airline staff and surveillance cameras (CCTV), before repacking the items into the bags, but it will cause unnecessary delays.
In some countries, ignorance is not a valid excuse for breaking the law. So, before you travel, it is advisable to familiarise yourself with the rules of your country of the destination than landing in jail. There are some obvious crimes (robbery, kidnapping, rape, murder, drugs, espionage, arson, human trafficking, driving under the influence, etc.), while others are not and as a result, not all countries punish or prosecute people. The non-obvious crimes are; public consumption of alcohol, public display of affection and nudity, urinating in public, bribe, homosexuality, confronting the cops, solicitation of a prostitute, speaking against the government, etc. None of our survey respondents have ever been arrested in their host country, probably people behave at their best when out of their country.
The transportation system in some countries is light years ahead of others, and this can be a very terrible experience for some travellers from other countries. A typical example is London (UK), where the TFL Tube Map and Oyster Card or Ticket are inseparable for first-time travellers. This does not mean everything will go smoothly according to your plan because you then have the bus to contend with. If you are not used to surfing the internet or subscribing for an internet data plan on your smartphone, then, missing the bus or staying longer at bus stations might just be another issue.
‘The estimated cab transfer cost from Heathrow Airport to Thistle City Barbican Hotel or Old Street Station in London is between £31 — $85'
Also, citizens or residents of the advanced countries are not spared of the rigours of moving around in developing or underdeveloped countries. With the advent of ride-hailing companies, it is easier to move around, but with their licenses being revoked in different countries, the problem has not been entirely solved. Depending on whichever ride (Uber, Bolt, Taxi — ‘regular: Black Cab, Yellow Taxi’, etc.) you take, the cost might not be your friend, but you will enjoy the comfort and probably the reduced journey duration. The estimated cab transfer cost from Heathrow Airport to Thistle City Barbican Hotel or Old Street Station in London is between £31 — $85, but using the train saves you more money. The saved money can be spent on other travel-related costs such as; hotel upgrade, food, etc. We, humans, have different taste, and some of us would not trade comfort for anything else. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to move around a new vicinity is to ask questions from the locals.
The following was provided by the respondents as reasons why they travelled and they are; work, study, visit family and friends, have fun, visit historical sites, etc. Also, they participated in activities such as; University tours, shopping, museum tour, clubbing, gym, hiking, etc.
When people relocate to another country and they are 18 years+, they are likely going to need a bank account in order to get funding from their home country for survival or to get paid by their employer in the host country. While it is easier for individuals from some countries, it could be a nightmare for some others. The banks have their reputation to protect and would not want to be fined or sanctioned by the financial regulatory body. Hence, enhanced due diligence needs to be conducted to ensure that the immigrant is not from a high-risk country, sanctioned country, or related to politically exposed persons (PEP). This is usually conducted to prevent activities such as; money laundering, terrorism funding, etc.
Apart from the original International Passport or National ID Card which is used to identify the immigrant at the bank, proof of address (e.g. utility bill, etc.) is needed as well, including a letter from employer or university admission letter, NI or SSN (National Insurance Number — UK, or Social Security Number — US), and to save an amount in some instances just to get your account opened. At times, it could take several weeks to complete the process, and on other occasions, it might not get done at all. Out of desperation, some immigrants use their friend’s account, while the friend gets a commission in some cases. Also, some people decide to forge documents just to get the account opened, but the bank is almost always on alert and spot irregularities immediately or later. The disruption of the financial industry by the Fintech companies (WorldRemit, TransferWise, Monese, N26, Revolut, etc.) have made it quite easier for people to have an account and also transfer money to their loved ones in their home country.
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