Your Safety

Duke Travels understands that recent events have changed the landscape of travel and that new protocols will be needed. The safety and security of our travelers is paramount. Duke Travels has implemented precautions and protocols for your safety in the past, and we will expand our efforts.

For the current situation:
We continue to monitor the countries in which all of our programs are operating, and the containment efforts put forth both here in the U.S. and abroad. For more information on COVID-19, please reference Duke’s Coronavirus Response website.

If you have specific concerns regarding one of our educational travel programs, please email us at duketravels@duke.edu or call us at (919) 684-2988. As this is a fluid situation, we are updating our Duke Travelers accordingly.

When travel resumes, it’s going to look different, and it will be incredibly important that travelers and tour operators work together to keep each other safe. Recognizing that traveler safety is top priority, our Tour Operators are hard at work developing enhanced safety protocols.

See the links below to learn more (note these sites are updated as new information becomes available):

Travel restrictions due to COVID-19
Given the restrictions imposed by local authorities due to COVID-19 and the uncertainty of this rapidly changing situation, we recommend that travelers who intend to travel carefully consider their options.

Travelers who still wish to travel during this unprecedented event must understand the potential risk that any associated costs will not be covered by your Tour Operator or Duke Travels if you are denied boarding, and that your travel insurance provider must cover any associated costs if you are unable to return home due to COVID-19. Learn more.

Due to rolling changes around the globe, we are unable to provide specific information on this page about the restrictions imposed by each country due to COVID-19. Borders closures and heavy restrictions have been imposed in some regions along with self-quarantine requirements for some domestic and international destinations. In addition, for some destinations only passengers who are residents of the country will be permitted entry.​

All travelers are responsible for ensuring that they are permitted entry into the country they are travelling, but your Tour Operator and Duke Travels are happy to assist with specific questions.

Information regarding specific travel restrictions can be found through this Interactive COVID-19 Travel Regulations Map, provided by the International Aviation and Transportation Authority (IATA).

Monitoring the World Situation:
Duke Travels monitors the world situation daily and accesses up-to-date information provided by the US Department of State, health outlets, and experts at Duke, such as Duke’s Global Travel Advisory Council and other institutional resources. Duke Travels works closely with all of its operators and their partners on the ground in the destination to inform its decisions about travel.

The European Union, and all of its member states, are planning for a safe re-opening of Europe. This interactive tool provides you with the information that you need to confidently plan your European travel and holidays, while staying healthy and safe. The information is frequently updated and available in 24 languages for your convenience.

Safety and Health information before you travel:

Understanding the Terms & Conditions of Your Travel:
Duke Travelers are entering contractual agreement with the tour operator for their travel. Please carefully read the Terms & Conditions provided by each tour operator in the brochure or subsequent confirmation documents as these conditions pertain to deposits and payments, cancelation policies, and the policy in the event of various circumstances, which could affect your departure.

Safeguarding your investment:
Duke works with Meyer & Associates to offer you Travel protection. For more information, contact Meyer & Associates at (973-635-0567) to speak with someone, who will advise you on insurance.

Tour Operator Protocols during Travel:
In addition to the standard protocols for safety and security already in place during our travel programs, our operators are hard at work expanding their Health and Safety Protocols in response to the pandemic and to be launched once travel restrictions have eased. They are all investing an extensive amount of research to develop a comprehensive approach to best practices during tour operations.

Expanded Protocols will include:

  • Passenger communications regarding on-site safe practices sent before departure and reiterated during travel
  • Travel Director training on reinforcing hygiene, recognizing and responding to health issues, utilization of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and gloves, and physical distancing
  • A Travel Director kit, including a non-contact thermometer, PPE supplies and local health contacts
  • Requirements that must be implemented by hotel, cruise ships and motor coach companies that include staff training, sanitation and procedural practices
  • A checklist of actions to be taken should someone show symptoms

All operators will continue to refine their Health and Safety Protocols based on government guidelines and emerging information. In the meantime, they are working with our overseas partners to ensure everyone is ready when you are ready to travel again. In the coming months, we will add more information to dedicated webpages for our tour operators, which outline these safety protocols.

Emergency Assistance:
Duke Travels provides an Emergency Assistance Plan for all of its travelers. This plan is for emergency medical attention and evacuation, etc. This plan only covers the traveler in case of emergency during the program, and does not provide financial reimbursement for trip interruption. In case of emergency, protocols are in place for the Tour Operator’s response in coordination with their in-country operations and Duke Travels.

In case of emergency, Duke Travels is by your side and with you until you are home safely: MedEvac Coverage Details

For additional questions, please contact Duke Travels at duketravels@duke.edu.