Foreign Office uses technology to help Brits on holiday
William Hague has announced a six-point plan to strengthen help for Brits abroad.
The Foreign secretary has created various taskforces which can respond quickly to crises overseas and is improving technology so that Britons abroad can keep in touch via mobiles or online.
In a speech yesterday he said the Government has no plans to subcontract consular services, adding: "Consular services will always remain a national responsibility."
His improvements include:
- a new crisis centre starting this summer with 50% more staff and a new call handling centre to deal with multiple crises
- a new network of contact centres which people can call, to provide round the clock coverage
- a new Rapid Deployment team, on call 24 hours of the day, seven days a week, for crises in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
- a new mobile registration system by the end of this year so British nationals caught up in a crisis can contact by text message
- moving more of the consular services online
- give more focus to vulnerable people or victims abroad with bodies like the Victim Support National Homicide Service
The Foreign Secretary said courage and judgement were both needed by consular officials to avoid over-reaction citing Egypt as an example of where Foreign Office advice was right.
He said: "During the Revolution in Egypt we were one of the few countries to judge accurately that the Red Sea resorts would remain safe for British travellers."
Diane
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt