From a Bali mosquito bite that triggered a £65,000 hospital stay and evacuation, to rescues on Mt. Everest, and dog attacks in Thailand, travellers can find themselves in sticky situations.
World Travel Protection, a global travel risk management company, helped hundreds of people through some of their worst moments last year as a work trip or dream holiday ended with an emergency airlift.
From command centres in Brisbane, London, and Toronto, the travel risk management company supports business and leisure travellers with medical case management, evacuation, repatriation, telehealth, and security and intelligence information.
World Travel Protection’s medical, travel, and security assistance experts have examined the company’s database for its global rescue hotspots in 2024.
They answered more than 300,000 calls for help last year. Around 35,000 calls progressed to assistance cases with 1,300 ending in a repatriation or evacuation.
Below is a list of the places travellers found themselves in the most trouble*, and what steps you can take to ensure your next great escape doesn’t turn into an emergency exit.
The top 5 global rescue hotspots, according to World Travel Protection’s experts
1. Nepal – The Everest of high-risk travel
Nepal led the way in emergency extractions, with more rescues than any other country. Nepal draws thousands of trekkers and climbers each year looking to push their bodies to the extreme.
Wildest rescue: The remote location, high altitude, extreme and changeable weather conditions, risk of avalanches and limited access (only way in or out is by foot or helicopter) make all rescues dangerous.
Top travel safety risks: At Mount Everest base camp (5364 m) oxygen availability is about 50% of that at sea level. Acute mountain sickness or altitude sickness is the biggest cause of evacuations from Everest, but injuries, gastro, physical exhaustion, and respiratory infections are also common.
How to mitigate them: Preparation, support, and acclimatisation are key before planning a trek to Nepal and it isn’t unusual for travellers to train for three to six months before departing. Seek medical advice a couple of months before you leave and take out travel insurance as helicopter evacuations and medical treatment are expensive.
2. Indonesia – From Bali bliss to Bali blues
With its stunning beaches and vibrant culture, Indonesia is a top destination for adventure seekers. However, the country sits on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ making it highly susceptible to earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Other risks like scooter accidents, and food and alcohol poisoning prove a trip to paradise can pack a punch.
Wildest Rescue: While holidaying in Bali, a traveller fell ill with fever, rash, headache, and joint pain. World Travel Protection’s medical team quickly referred them to a nearby hospital, where dengue fever was confirmed. The traveller developed a serious chest infection and was moved to ICU then evacuated to Australia within 48 hours. Fortunately, the traveller recovered, and insurance covered the £65,000 costs.
Top travel safety risks: Risks of drink spiking and methanol poisoning are increasing, particularly from unregulated alcohol. Bali also poses risks from insect-borne diseases, rabies, contaminated food and water, and unsafe adventure operators.
How to mitigate them: Get pre-travel medical advice about vaccines, health risks and medication. Use insect repellent, avoid raw food and tap water, and drink only at reputable venues.
3. United States – Land of the free … and the unexpected
Crime and natural disasters are major risks in the U.S. while entry is being more heavily enforced by authorities. Word to the wise: avoid some of the most expensive medical fees in the world and buy top-tier health cover.
Wildest Rescue: The wildest thing about US rescues is how eye-wateringly expensive they can be. A simple influenza-like illness that turns into pneumonia requiring hospitalisation can set you back around £50,000. An air ambulance from US back to UK can be more than £100,000, depending on your location.
Top travel safety risks: US authorities have broad powers to decide who is eligible to enter and may determine that you are inadmissible for any reason. Medical care and medical costs in the US are extremely high.
How to mitigate them: Before you depart check US entry, transit and exit requirements. Ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance, get a health check before you leave, and take enough medication for the entire trip along with a letter from your doctor.
4. Greece – Where the stunning climate can turn deadly
Wildest rescue: Climate-fuelled disasters are turning dream holidays into emergency evacuations. In 2023, wildfires forced hundreds of travellers to flee with World Travel Protection stepping in to help. The team helped one traveller escape Rhodes as flames closed in, forcing them to leave nearly everything behind. Roads cut by the fire meant they were unable to return, losing possessions and their accommodation booking.
Top travel safety risks: There is a high risk of wildfires in Greece during the summer season, which runs from April to October. Wildfires can pose health risks due to poor air quality, exacerbating existing conditions and straining local medical infrastructure.
How to mitigate them: It’s important to have World Travel Protection’s assistance app on your smart phone so you can receive warning alerts for incidents occurring near you. Remain flexible with travel plans, have a plan to be able to contact emergency services, if necessary, and travel with an emergency first aid kit.
5. Thailand – When sun and sand turn into SOS
Wildest rescue: World Travel Protection assists numerous people who get bitten by animals in Thailand to seek treatment immediately to prevent rabies, which quickly turns deadly if left untreated. Last year travellers were bitten by monkeys and even attacked by packs of wild dogs while walking or riding bicycles.
Top travel safety risks: Rabies in Thailand is primarily transmitted from dogs. If bitten, immediate medical attention and Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) treatment are essential. Rabies has no effective treatment once symptoms appear, so immediate wound care is vital.
How to mitigate them: Consider rabies vaccinations before travelling to Thailand and seek treatment immediately for any scratches or wounds from animal bites.