Travel safety apps allow travellers to message emergency contacts if in danger or they fail to reach a destination. Photo / Getty Images
Travel safety apps allow travellers to message emergency contacts if in danger or they fail to reach a destination. Photo / Getty Images
Travellers are taking fewer maps, phrasebooks and currency cards, and packing ever more into their phone.
If you were to scan the contents of a phone from any serious traveller, you'd find offline maps, timetables, bus tickets, taxi hailing services and even messaging apps – yes, the original reason we brought the phone in the first place, to connect us back home.
But a growing space on the app store shelf is taken up by 'travel safety' apps.
Technology is allowing travellers to go forth with greater confidence. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's SafeTravel website allows you to register your travel with MFAT, so it can respond to emergencies and account for New Zealanders caught up in incidents overseas.
While the MFAT is using technology to help New Zealanders abroad, tech businesses have also seen the opportunity for apps to put the anxious traveller's mind at ease.
Travel safety apps like BSafe and Bugle allow travellers to message their emergency contacts if in danger or they fail to reach a destination.
But while these apps may achieve their goal of helping you travel with greater confidence, do they actually make you any safer?
Writing for the Conversation.com Anastasia Powell, an Associate Professor in Criminology and Justice Studies at RMIT University, recounted her review into the growing market for travel safety tech and whether they can be counted on in a real emergency.
While the article was quick to praise the apps, which are primarily marketed towards solo female travellers, there was concern that they provided very little power against real incidents.
In some countries, both violence generally, and violence against women, happen more frequently and travellers are at increased risk.
MFAT advises female travellers in India to avoid travelling alone on public transportation, especially at night. Photo / Nasir Kachroo, Getty Images
Countries in Central Sub-Saharan Africa lead the WHO's table of non-partner sexual violence and are also are considered the highest risk by MFAT for terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest. In much of Niger, the Ministry's advice is not to travel "due to the threat of terrorism and kidnapping, the presence of armed militants and the unpredictable security situation."
There are some places you are simply not going to visit as a tourist, app or no.
However, there are also many popular travel destinations within Africa, South America and the Middle East which could be perceived to be 'higher risk'.
India, a favourite destination for New Zealand travellers, is one of these countries.
New Zealand's official line is that "personal safety, particularly for women and girls is a concern in India."
"Women travellers should take particular care, even when travelling in a group and avoid travelling alone on public transportation, especially at night," says MFAT's advice for the country.
While the WHO report shows that victims of violent crime were more likely to come to harm at home and from an acquaintance, these warnings for female travellers do little to build confidence.
It's clear to see why this anxiety is fuelling sales for these safety apps. But what power do they offer?
Should a traveller get into the position to report themselves missing using one of these devices, then chances are it is already too late.
The verdict is that the apps are about feeling more empowered than actually providing any safety.
They are a piece of what Powell refers to as "security theatre."
A term more associated with terror events, "security theatre" refers to actions that are more to do with managing public fear.
While the increase of these apps is indicative of a problem with sexual violence against female tourists, it is also shows that travellers are not willing to write off large sections of the world as 'no-go' areas.
It's a sign that more solo tavellers and women are interested in visiting places that are out of their comfort zone.
These apps are not going to prevent violent crime abroad, but they are going to give a backup and more confidence to travellers who initially would not have overcome their fears surrounding a travel to a new place.
WHO Prevalence of non-partner sexual violence by GBD region
