Table 3 Interpersonal Safety
From: Healthy, safe and responsible: the modern female traveller
| Plan ahead | |
| Find out gender issues and attitudes towards women at the destination | |
| What are acceptable manners? Is it appropriate to approach men for questions? Does looking into men’s eyes mean an invitation? Shake hands? | |
| Do you know yourself enough? What are your plans in case …? | |
| Could your travel plans expose you to risks? | |
| - Shamanic experiences; sexual assault linked to ceremonies | |
| - Sex/romance tourism: more problematic where women tourists are new – local men don’t know how Western women function | |
| - Legal situation regarding adultery, pre-marital sex | |
| Encounters | |
| Don’t invite visitors to your room; don’t accompany men to their room; meet in foyer or in public places | |
| Avoid using local dating apps | |
| Don’t accept rides with strangers | |
| Understand local perception of Western women | |
| Limit alcohol, avoid any drugs; be aware of drink spiking | |
| Be alert at ‘full-moon parties’ | |
| Be alert in crowds | |
| Don’t eat/drink somebody’s food if they don’t eat the same | |
| Don’t discuss travel plans with strangers | |
| Be aware of people posing as police or tour guide | |
| Control your own behaviour | |
| Know procedure in case of rape (police reports, forensic examination etc) | |
| Protection | |
| Wear a whistle, ‘rape alarm’ | |
| Carry personal protection devices if legal at destination |