Travel makes the world go round. It makes our globalised economy function, it allows us to shop around for even our most basic welfare services, such as operations, and it enables us to relocate for work or for lifestyle reasons. It is not, of course, a new phenomenon; but what is different is the pace, frequency and complexity with which we travel today.

The growth in travel does not come without a price. In recent years, there has been an understandable focus on the security risks of travel, especially those relating to terrorism; but it is important that these issues do not obscure awareness of the health impacts of travel. Conservative estimates show that 30-50% of travellers get ill or are injured during their trip. In recent years a number of communicable diseases have been reintroduced into the UK as a result of the movement of people. Similarly, as we travel from the UK we can take health problems with us and deposit them in our destinations. And because travel is so integrated into almost every aspect of our lives, the impacts of health scares tend to go beyond the personal and public health realm.

A collaborative project between Demos, The Foreign Policy Centre, The Nuffield Trust and Control Risks Group, Healthy Travel argues that a more effective approach is needed to travel health advice, one that takes account of diversity and which is realistic in its treatment of the uncertainties inherent in travel. It aims to map out the sweeping challenges facing policy makers and practitioners, and to spark further debate among those involved in travel health, domestic health policy and the communication of travel advice.