Weddings in the News - Hen & Stag Parties make Prague a 'Tourist Trouble Hotspot'

In a report on British Tourists Abroad the Foreign and Commonwealth Office says the Czech Republic is one of the countries where most consular assistance is required with a disproportionate number of lost passports, arrests and hospitalisations. This is likely to be due to the massive influx of hen and stag parties to Prague.

The problem is not isolated to Prague though, Foreign Office research last year suggested 24% of people on stag and hen parties faced problems abroad.

The Latvian capital Riga is among places which have become more popular with British tourists, partly as a result of improved air links to Eastern Europe.

In a interview with BBC Radio Five Live, Mike Johnson, an American who runs Patricia Tourist Office in Riga, said local people were not keen on some of the visitors and bad behaviour by some was affecting tourism.

"Latvia is a very quiet, shy country - the people are very calm. They teach their children, for example, not to speak in a tram as they ride," he said.

"And so to have a bunch of loud-mouthed boys come here and drink, take off their shirts, run around the streets and scream and pee on our monuments, it's not very well-received."

FCO minister Meg Munn said many problems faced by British holidaymakers could be avoided.

"Simple precautions like researching your destination, getting comprehensive travel insurance, checking out medical requirements and taking copies of important documents could help avoid common travelling traumas, risks and dangers in the long-run," she said.

Earlier this year MPs called for Britons on Hen & Stag parties abroad to be charged more often when they call on UK diplomats to bail them out of trouble.

So far, people have been charged for help in only 323 out of 84,000 cases by consulates using existing powers, says the Commons public accounts committee.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office welcomed the report. Consular staff already have powers to charge £84.50 a hour for helping Britons. Although those who are not at fault – perhaps victims of robbery – will not be asked to pay.

Top tips:

• Check the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Travel Advice or call 0845 850 2829;
• Get Travel Insurance and check that the cover is adequate;
• Get a good guidebook and find out about local laws and customs;
• Ensure you have a valid passport that is in good condition and not about to expire;
• Make copies of your passport, insurance policy (together with any emergency helpline numbers), and ticket details; and leave them with family or a friend back home;
• Ensure you have enough money, as well as some back-up funds - just in case!
• If you're travelling within the EU you need to get a European Health Insurance Card

If you do get into trouble, as a UK citizen, you are entitled to ask for Consular Assistance - this is not a 'get-out-of-jail-free card' though and the amount of assistance you should expect will be limited.

What British Consular staff can do:

• issue replacement passports and provide information about transferring funds;
• provide appropriate help if you have suffered rape or serious assault, are a victim of other crime, or are in hospital;
• provide details of local lawyers, interpreters, doctors and funeral directors;
• do all they properly can to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been detained;
• contact family or friends for you; and make special arrangements in cases of terrorism, civil
  disturbances or natural disasters.

What they can't do:

• get you out of prison or interfere in criminal or civil proceedings;
• give you legal advice, investigate crimes or search for missing people;
• get you better treatment in hospital or prison than is given to local people;

• make travel arrangements for you, or find you work or accommodation;

• pay any bills or give you money (in very exceptional circumstances they may lend you some money, from public funds, which you will have to pay back).

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