Timely Travel Warning
A Cherrybrook family had a most unpleasant experience this week when their young daughter, travelling with a student travel group in remote Argentina, lost her luggage in which she had unwisely left her Australian Passport.
Her distressed Mother contacted local Federal Member, Philip Ruddock who made contact with Department of Foreign Affairs officials who requested Australian Consular officers in Buenos Aires to initiate action to issue a new passport.
“This young lady had worked for some four years to be able to undertake this trip which was to see her travel through Argentina, Chile and Peru. One careless moment very nearly ruined things for her.”
Mr Ruddock said it was a timely reminder for all travellers, “keep your Passport and valuables with you at all times!”
“Without her Passport, this young Australian was unable to continue with her tour groupand had to remain in a remote area of Argentina while the rest of her group crossed the border into Chile.”
“ Unable to speak the language, she needed to travel some twelve hours by bus to Buenos Aires. Both she and her family took comfort from receiving messages from the Department of Foreign Affairs and my own office providing advice as to what she needed to do.”
With recent official statistics showing that the number of Australians holidaying overseas soared by 20% in November 2009 compared with November 2008, Mr Ruddock said he felt it timely to remind travellers to take precautions to keep their possessions, particularly their Passports and money, safe.
“ This young lady has travel insurance which will help with the replacement of her belongings and the incidental cost of additional accommodation and travel needs, but nothing can undo the upset and worry which she and her family have experienced this week.”
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15th January 2010