Travelling on business is often tedious, inconvenient and, sometimes even dangerous, says Paul Gardner, director of Fareham-based Amity World Business Travel.

To those who have never travelled overseas regularly on business, that statement must seem a poor attempt to justify a job made in heaven.

The fact is, however, that not all business is transacted in luxury hotels in safe, clean cities in Western Europe. Amity's clients are often to be found in such places as Nigeria, Paraguay, Egypt and China.

Earthquakes, hurricanes, political unrest and epidemics - before any overseas trip, passengers must assess the potential risks from any of these and, if they proceed with the visit, take the appropriate precautions. Information via the WB has improved the speed and accuracy of this information and we would recommend the following WebSites for anyone needing detailed advice when visiting an area they are not familiar with.

http://www.fco.gov.uk

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office site that has a superb section on Travel Advice that is updated continuously. Check here for detailed information about possible threats to your safety in more than 130 countries and the services which are available from British Missions overseas.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/

You know the feeling. You are in Uzbekistan and you long to know how the "arctic conditions" back home are going to affect your golf match when you get back. The Beeb's World Service will make you feel at home.

http://www.baa.co.uk

BAA's website with Arrival, Departure and Airport information for all BAA owned Airports in the UK - that includes Gatwick, Heathrow and Southampton. Everything you need to know about airport facilities is here. You can even shop online! Information provided by Amity World Travel.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.