Travel Risks Highlighted by Recent Passing of American Journalist

Travel Risks In The Middle East For Executives

Travel risks to places like the Middle East are on full display after sports journalist Grant Wahl passed away while covering the World Cup. The exact cause of his death has yet to be determined, but many of his family members have speculated that his passing involved foul play of some kind. Wahl, a passionate supporter of global LGBTQ+ rights, was originally detained by World Cup security for simply wearing a rainbow shirt that showcased his support of the LGBTQ+ community. Many journalists, media personalities, and television broadcasters have faced the risks of traveling to the Middle East head-on, experiencing censorship and threats to their safety.

Qatar has gained a long-standing reputation for being unfriendly to those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community, ultimately creating several risks for supporters and allies alike visiting the country for work. The passing of Wahl tells a different story about the risks media personalities face when visiting countries that don’t align with their own personal values. Before your staff heads off to places that pose unique travel risks, collaborate alongside AFIMAC, and ensure the safety of your traveling workforce.

Travel Risks for Unfriendly Travel Destinations

Many corporate entities call for their workforces to visit exotic travel destinations that may clash with their employee’s values. Corporate travelers who are part of the LGBTQ+ community are subject to extensive scrutiny when visiting certain destinations, facing risks that traditional corporate travelers would never encounter. Harassment, invasive searches, and wrongful detainment are unfortunately commonplace for members of the LGBTQ+ community, creating a unique set of risks for employees heading to certain destinations for work.

Qatar maintains several laws against same-sex relationships, but the risks aren’t exclusive to this destination. Places like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran have a number of legal consequences for same-sex relations, including lashes, imprisonment, and in some cases, the death penalty. In other situations, a traveler can be arrested for public displays of affection or face consequences if local police simply discover that they have a same-sex partner back in their home country. Many corporations are likely to be surprised that many destinations like Africa and Jamaica have laws against same-sex relationships that can put your staff in harm’s way.

Travel Risks Facing LGBTQ+ Supporters and Corporate Travelers

Truthfully, some corporations may send their workforce into dangerous situations simply because they are unaware that the staff member identifies with the LGBTQ+ community. Should your staff experience security concerns while visiting destinations that are unfriendly to the LGBTQ+ community, not only could their well-being be put in jeopardy, but, the company could also fail to meet its duty of care obligations to provide a safe workplace for all staff.

Grant Wahl’s initial security concerns came from supporting the LGBTQ+ community. As a proud and outspoken ally of the LGBTQ+ community, he faced wrongful detainment for only wearing a rainbow shirt. For other journalists and media personnel, their social media profiles may create additional risks when visiting places that don’t align with their values. Outspoken critiques of a country’s treatment of the LGBTQ+ community can be uncovered years after they were originally published, creating a long list of risks for a corporate traveler who is required to visit such destinations for work.

Executive Travel Security Solutions By AFIMAC Global

AFIMAC is a global leader in the provision of travel security solutions for corporate travelers visiting remote parts of the world. Journalists and media professionals experience many complications and risks when traveling that are linked to their work or personal values. With resources deployed across the globe, North American media companies can explore a number of services, including close protection, protective drivers, and ongoing security planning to ensure the safe movement of their staff anywhere in the world.

Minimize the risk of business travel to destinations that may be unfriendly to LGBTQ+ travelers and ensure your workforce can complete their duties without complications. AFIMAC can even conduct an online assessment of your team’s social media presence and skim for personal details that could be used to target specific employees and result in complex security risks during their trip.

Fill out the form below to learn more about the travel security offerings from AFIMAC. Secure entire workforces and provide exceptional duty of care wherever your workers are called to visit. Contact us today to learn more.