Lebanon, NH – May 6, 2024 – Hundreds of the world’s most experienced travelers have been warned, fined, detained or arrested during international travel for rules they were unaware existed. Seven percent of travelers responding to the Global Rescue Spring 2024 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey reported receiving a warning, a ticket or worse for breaking a rule or law in another country that they didn’t realize was prohibited. Infractions included drinking in public, speeding, illegal turns, parking violations, not wearing a seatbelt, and skiing off-piste.

A few respondents reported stiff fines or detainment by law enforcement for littering in Bangkok, taking a picture of a police station in Morocco, jay walking in Krakow, vaping in Singapore and being naked on a Brazilian beach.

“It is critical to have some knowledge of your destination’s laws before traveling,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Travelers’ increasing appetite for less popular, more remote destinations has many benefits: authentic experiences, reduced crowds and more adventure, to name a few. But it also has some downsides, including a higher probability of accidentally violating lesser-known laws and customs.

Many travelers are going to Italy and Greece, destinations ranked among the most frequently mentioned international destinations travelers are planning to visit in 2024. “Whether it’s a new locality or a reliable region within those countries, tourists should know that visiting historic sites in Italy, Greece or Vatican City comes with rules that may seem odd but are nevertheless enforced,” Richards said.

For example, it is prohibited to wade or dive in Rome’s Trevi Fountain, feed the birds in Piazza San Marco in Venice or take photos inside the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. Officials in Greece banned high-heeled shoes at the Acropolis to protect it and other antiquities from wear and tear.

Unusual rules, however, are not limited to historic sites and landmarks. Tourists traveling to Thailand and touring in a rental car, zipping through city streets on a scooter, taking a scenic ride on a bike or exploring with the public transportation system should keep their shirts on at all times. It is illegal to drive without one.

You can take your shirt off when driving along Germany’s Autobahn, relishing sections with no speed limits. But there are other restrictions for this European freeway. Pulling over onto the shoulder, stopping, parking, backing up and making U-turns on the freeway is completely prohibited. Running out of gas on the Autobahn is considered a preventable circumstance and not an excusable reason to stop on the roadway, unlike experiencing a breakdown and pulling onto the shoulder.

Knowing the local laws of your destination is critical before traveling. The U.S. Department of State’s travel information web page for overseas travel advice explains how travelers are subject to local laws while abroad. “You are bound by those laws. Ignorance is not an excuse,” Richards said. 

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 (202) 560-1195 (phone/text) for more information.    

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey     

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 2,000 of its current and former members between April 16-20, 2024. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.    

About Global Rescue     

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.