The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) today issues a timely reminder of the importance of being properly prepared for a holiday abroad.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) today issues a timely reminder of the importance of being properly prepared for a holiday abroad. The advice might be the last thing British holidaymakers want to hear as they pack for a well-earned break in the sun after months of hard work. But the latest FCO British Behaviour Abroad report highlights the importance of paying attention to the detail in planning a foreign holiday. Being prepared can take several forms, starting with ensuring that the holidaymaker is properly insured.

According to a linked survey, three-quarters of Scots questioned last month (the peak Scottish holiday period) said they would cut corners when preparing for a foreign holiday because of the implications of the credit crunch. This has caused concern that holidaymakers are opting out of taking comprehensive travel insurance, a decision with potentially high-risk consequences. Just how irresponsible this aspect of cost-cutting can be is illustrated by figures in the FCO report. These show that more than 8000 Britons needed help in the United States, more than 6700 passports were lost in Spain, more than 600 needed hospital treatment in Greece and nearly 1600 died in Spain in the year to March 2007.

These are figures people do not want to be reminded of before a holiday but, with proper preparation and responsible behaviour abroad, fewer tourists would require help and there would probably be fewer deaths and injuries. Also, they would be better covered in the event of an accident or illness. Yet, more than one holidaymaker in 10 does not bother in advance to find out about the laws and customs of their country of destination. More than one in five admit taking greater risks on holiday, which includes failing to take heed of local laws.

That type of mindset can have serious consequences for the locals in countries visited. A lack of respect for a way of life can tip over into causing offence and breaking the law when drink is involved. The disgraceful behaviour of young Britons in the Faliraki resort on the Greek holiday island of Rhodes, where cheap alcohol was available round the clock, led the authorities to scale back on a binge-drinking holiday culture that had been promoted.

No holiday destination should have to put up with excessive behaviour but the FCO report suggests that some Britons do not know how to behave themselves without getting into trouble and being offensive. Drink is the common factor in many of the types of trouble Britons find themselves in. If we cannot get the message across at home about the dangers of binge drinking, especially to young people, what hope do we have when alcohol is even cheaper and more readily available abroad?