With a 37% increase in muggings and a 38% rise in murders preceding the FIFA World Cup, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, one of the world's most popular tourist destinations and the host city for several matches of next month's World Cup, has caused security measures to be taken earlier than expected.
While authorities planned to add more beat police on the city streets, they were not anticipating that there would be a need to add more security on the street until much closer to the start of the tournament on June 12.
With the surge of street crime in Rio, combined with the impending arrival of 400,000 World Cup fans, Dominick Zenzola, vice president and employee benefits manager of Chubb Accident & Health has provided a list of Brazil-specific safety tips to help minimize business and travel risk for media personnel, sponsors and employer groups heading to the World Cup.
Before sending employees to Brazil, employers and employees must discuss the risks of traveling to the area.
"Clear communication between employer and employee is a must. Prior to traveling, an employer needs to explain the various components of its business travel accident policy as well as travel assistance services available to employees in the event of an accident or mishap. Since no amount of protective services can help if travelers don't know how to access them, it's best for employers to provide clearly written policies to help mitigate risks and ensure travel safety," Zenzola said.
Click through the following slides to learn more about staying safe in Rio.
Pre-departure preparation
Choosing the right hotel is critical, but with a surge in tourists for the World Cup in June, it may be difficult to find rooms. While there are many high-quality hotels in Brazil's major cities, selection can be limited in rural areas.
Incidents of crime against travelers are higher in areas near hotels, so foreign employers may want to employ third-party risk consultants to perform security audits and determine suitable facilities before arriving in Brazil.
"The highest quality hotels are in Brazil's major cities, but if a first choice is booked, a traveler may want to consider other options including paying higher prices for the accommodations that are still available. Employers may also choose a more rural hotel location or consider a guesthouse or apartment rental," Zenzola said.
"Regardless what type of facility is chosen, foreign employers may want to employ third-party risk consultants to perform security audits and determine suitable facilities beforehand. Refrain from renting a house in the 'favelas'—the Portuguese phrase for urban slums, which are located upon the slopes surrounding much of Brazil's major cities. Travelers should avoid these areas all together."
Prior to departure, business travelers should also prepare themselves by taking other precautionary measures.
"Business travelers should access their employer's travel assistance provider to obtain up-to-date country information that contains country and city risk ratings and profiles. Business travelers can also visit the U.S. State Department website for additional travel warnings and country information. Employees should also consider getting vaccinations against Hepatitis A and Typhoid and, depending on location of travel, Hepatitis B, Rabies and Yellow Fever too," Zenzola said.
Taking stock of safety zones, such as a nearby U.S. embassy or consulate, is also adventageous for visitors.
"Travelers should also consider registering with their country's embassy when they arrive in Brazil and store that embassy's telephone number and address in their cell phone for quick access. Since anti-World Cup protests are still likely to occur, especially as the games get closer, travelers should avoid all forms of demonstrations for their own personal safety," said Zenzola.
At the same time, travelers should research reputable taxi services, such as the service offered by a hotel, and should avoid flagging a taxi in the streets.
On-the-ground safety
"Favelas"—the Portuguese word for urban slums—in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Recife can be extremely dangerous, but crowded areas, regardless of the part of town, can be hotbeds for protests and criminal activity.
Police forces plan to secure a perimeter around Maracana Stadium, where the final match will be held, and other tourist areas, deploying nearly 7,000 military police officers and an additional 156 foreign-language-speaking officers will be on duty around the city.
When entering a busy tourist destination, Zenzola suggests locating a member of the specially designated "tourist police" on patrol, but being aware of one's surroundings is certainly critical.
"The primary threat to foreign travelers is crime, ranging from petty theft, mugging, burglary and car theft to life-threatening crimes such as kidnapping, rape and murder, so travelers can take several steps to reduce their risks," Zenzola said.
It is recommended that travelers wear a travel wallet that can be hidden beneath clothing, and that purses, wallets and other valuables are secure when in public.
When it comes to local food and drink, travelers should be aware of what they are consuming, paying careful attention to their food and its source.
"To remain healthy, travelers should only drink bottled or boiled water, and ice cubes should also be avoided. Steer clear of dairy products unless you are sure they have been pasteurized. Never purchase food from street vendors, and fruits and vegetables should also be avoided unless they have been rigorously cleaned, peeled, or cooked," he said.
In addition, travelers who go to bars and clubs should watch their drinks carefully and avoid accepting drinks from strangers, considering the drugging of drinks can be a prelude to robbery or rape.
Insurance solutions
Both adverse weather events and political unrest could lead to increased evacuation vulnerabilities due to limited or ceased air travel. Additionally, a medical emergency could leave an employee incapacitated and unable to arrange his or her own evacuation.
Having a comprehensive business travel plan before leaving for Rio that includes medical evacuation, travel accident, kidnap/ransom and extortion services is prudent, according to Zenzola, especially with the increased crime in Rio's streets.
Even though these plans help prepare employees for the worst-case scenario, having a plan in place beforehand can help bring peace of mind for the employees headed to Ro de Janeiro, as well as their colleagues, coworkers and family members. Safety and having plans in place should be a priority in the event that adverse events occur.
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