Overseas Visitor Deaths in Australia, 2001 to 2003

Abstract

Australia remains a relatively safe destination for international travelers, at least in terms of fatalities, which appear to be declining. Most deaths of overseas tourists in Australia are due to natural causes with cardiovascular disease being the predominant cause of death in this group. Accidents remain the most common preventable cause of death of travelers, with road and water safety being the major issues. It is important that tourism and travel medicine groups continue to advocate for improved health and safety of international travelers visiting Australia.

Croatia is a safe tourist destination – study of foreign citizen mortality in Splitsko-dalmatinska and Primorsko-goranska County during the period 2001-2010

“…This study confirmed such claims and found a low foreign citizens’ mortality rate in Croatia. Studies on foreign citizens’ mortality in other countries are limited (4,5,13), while there are more studies on the mortality of citizens while abroad (8,9,14). …”

“…Drowning mortality rate was 0.33 per 100 000 tourists (22.2% of all deaths), which is not high when compared to Australian data, where crude beach surfing drowning rate is 2.6 per 100 000 (25% of all drowning deaths) (19). At the same time, Leggat and Wilks reported only 5% of drowning deaths in tourists visiting Australia (4). Several studies report drowning as the second most frequent cause of death in foreign citizens (4,18,20).…”

“…At the same time, Leggat and Wilks reported only 5% of drowning deaths in tourists visiting Australia (4). Several studies report drowning as the second most frequent cause of death in foreign citizens (4,18,20). As most deaths occur close to the shore, it is important to have lifeguards on major beaches.…”

“…Traffic accidents were the leading cause of injury deaths in foreign citizens visiting the USA (37%) and Australia (14%) (4,20). There are numerous measures to reduce traffic mortality, and Croatian authorities have focused on building highways, redesigning bad intersections and bad roads, and especially on getting drunk drivers off the roads.…”

“…However, some foreign citizens arrive with more serious conditions, mostly cardiovascular in nature, and they are usually unaware of them. Cardiovascular diseases are the single most common cause of death among this population, while the majority of unintentional deaths are ascribed to traffic related deaths and drowning (4,8,9). The aim of this study was to investigate the mortality rate of foreign citizens in Splitsko-dalmatinska and Primorsko-goranska Counties.…”