29 essentials 24/11/08 15:26 Page 29
Essential Knowledge
Latin lessons
Facts at your
O
FFICIAL
D
fingertips to
OCUMENTS
ensure safe and
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Citizens of the UK and Ireland
do not need visas to visit
happy clients
virtually all Central and South
American destinations. The
only exception is Venezuela,
where tourists will need a
tourist entry card when
travelling overland and
To train online, register at
crossing borders.
www.ttglive.com/knowledge
For more information, go to
www.lata.org
Languages
Spanish is the main languag Time zones
majority of Latin American countries,
e in the
with the ma
The east coast of South America – Argentina, Uruguay and coastal
jor exception being Brazil
where P
areas of Brazil – is three hours behind GMT. Most of the rest of the
ortuguese is spok
essential t
en. It’s not
continent is four or five hours behind. In Central America, the time is
o be able t
languag
o speak these either five or six hours behind GMT. In Mexico, like the rest of North
es when tra
region, but k
velling in the America, time zones vary from five to eight hours behind GMT.
ey w
o
an advantag
rds and phrases are
e and local people alw
appreciat
e it when visit
ays
effort t
ors mak
o speak at least a little of
e an
the languag
Weather
e.
Latin America is a massive area stretching from Mexico in
North America, across the equator to the far southern reaches
Health
of Chile and Argentina, just 800 miles from the Antarctic Circle.
This means that the weather varies enormously between
Some regions of Latin America are
destinations and even within the same country – depending on
aff
when clients are going and
ected b
y malaria but this is mainly
restrict
whether they are travelling
ed t
o specific areas, mostly in
the jungle. Health practitioners and
inland, on the coast or at
tra
high altitudes.
vel clinics can pro
illustrat
vide maps t With so many variables you
e areas of risk.
o
need to advise your clients
Vaccinations are recommended or
req
carefully depending on their
uired f
or some other diseases so
it’s important that clients seek
itinerary and departure
medical advice in plenty of time
dates. If you’re unsure of
bef
what to advise, contact a
ore tra
velling.
specialist tour operator to be
For more inf
ormation, visit the
Health Clinic at www
TTG
sure you don’t send clients at
.ttgliv
e.com
a time when the weather is
likely to adversely affect
their holiday.
29
TTG Knowledge LATIN AMERICA November 2008
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