Information Technologies for Diplomatic Activities by Stefano Baldi

Gathering Useful Information for Diplomatic Activity

Travelling for work

People dealing with International Affairs often travel or live in a foreign country. The use of Internet can help in finding information concerning weather forecast, travel arrangements, hotel accommodation, timetables and what else is needed for travelling around the world.

• Timetables and accommodation
• Weather
• Travel Advisories

Timetables and accommodation

» See document: http://travel.yahoo.com/destinations

• Airways
  » See document: http://orari.alitalia.it/scripts/azschedule/ita_orari.asp
   
• Railways
  » See document: http://www.virgilio.it/canali/viaggi/mini_guida/treno.html
   
• Hotels
  

  Rather than using long directories, guides or indexes of lodgings provided by hundreds of separate lodging groups or hotel chains it is now possible to use specific search tool to find hotel accomodation. The possibility of making reservations online is also extending not only to luxury hotels but also to mid-range accomodations.

  
  » See document: http://www.ase.net/
   

Weather

» See document: http://www.intellicast.com

Travel Advisories

• Travel Warnings of the US State Department
  

  Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides, based

  on all relevant information, to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries where avoidance of travel is recommended will have Travel Warnings as well as Consular Information Sheets.

  
  » See document: http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html
   
• Foreign Office Travel advice
  

  FCO's Consular Division produces a range of material intended to advise and inform British citizens travelling abroad. This includes advice to help British travellers avoid trouble, especially threats to their personal safety arising from political unrest, lawlessness, violence, natural disasters, epidemics anti-British demonstrations and aircraft safety. The service offers access to the full range of Travel Advice notices, and a selection of consular information material.

  
  » See document: http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel/default.asp
   
• Department Foreign Affairs Canada - Travel Information
  » See document: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/graphics/cosmos/cntry_e.htm
   
• Travel Medicine programme by Health Canada
  

  As one of Health Canada's many roles in maintaining the health of Canadians, the Travel Medicine Program (TMP) is responsible for providing the following travel health information for persons travelling outside Canada:

  - current information on international disease outbreaks,

  - immunization recommendations for international travel,

  - general health advice for international travellers,

  - disease-specific treatment and prevention guidelines.

  This information has been specifically designed for persons planning to travel internationally and for travel medicine professionals who provide counsel to international travellers.

  
  » See document: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb/lcdc/osh/tmp_e.html
   
• MFA Australia - Consular Travel Advice -
  » See document: http://www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice/advices_mnu.html