Is this a case of ‘we were all thinking it, but they actually had the guts to say it’?
Australia’s National Audit Office – a group that provides full audit and assurance services to the government and other sectors – has practically described the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) travel advice as, well, boring.
During a review of the government’s Smartraveller operations, the group found travel warnings to be ‘too long’.
According to their research, less than a third of travellers will spend the time required to read the entire destination message.
The advice for somewhere like Thailand can be lengthy, the audit group has found.
They said the reason for this was because advice is often lengthy and rambling.
They could very well have a point because if you look at a destination like Thailand, it could take up to 40 minutes to read the full advice.
Now imagine the advisory for a destination with ongoing political disruption like Egypt.
“This commentary is often lengthier than that of international counterparts.”
National Audit Office
The survey by the audit group also found only eight percent of respondents changed their behaviour while overseas based on the department’s recommendations.
DFAT has yet to comment on the results of the audit, but KarryOn believes all advice supplied by the government agency is designed to protect Australian travellers and ensure they have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Image: Ditty_about_summer/Shutterstock
Meanwhile, the audit group has suggested DFAT consider shortening its warnings and writing them in simpler English.
“Reducing the length of advisories, improving the conciseness of messages and using simpler language would also make advisories more accessible to those with limited English language backgrounds.”
National Audit Office
Late last year, another government-run department – the Australian consulate – made headlines after tightening overseas assistance.
The change came after a review found Australians have a misunderstanding of what consulates do and the services they provide.
