Should you be worried about travelling to Europe?

After the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, many Canadians are wondering whether Europe is a safe summer vacation destination. 

Many travellers say they won’t let the attacks deter them from visiting the continent. According to the most recent Statistics Canada data, the seasonally adjusted number of Canadian tourists returning from abroad has remained relatively steady since October.

Experts say you shouldn’t be afraid -- but stay vigilant.

Mary Jane Hiebert, chair of the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies, says travel agents aren’t seeing a major shift in European vacation plans this year. While some Canadians may have decided to avoid France, Belgium and other European countries for now, it has not had a significant impact on the industry, she told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview.

“I think that people are not necessarily afraid, I think they are just taking some precautions in advance,” she said.

The key to safe and enjoyable travel is to “be aware of your situations and surroundings” and give yourself extra time to deal with increased security measures at airports, train stations and other public places, Hiebert said.

Here are some precautions you can take as you plan your European vacation:

Keep track of travel advisories

The Canadian government regularly updates travel advisories for each country online. There is currently no blanket advisory for Europe, but the government is advising Canadians to “exercise a high degree of caution” if travelling to France and Belgium due to the elevated threat of terrorism. The U.K. government has issued similar advisories.

The U.S. Department of State, meanwhile, issued a Europe-wide travel alert following the March 22 terror attacks in Brussels.

For up-to-date Canadian advisories and alerts while travelling, you can download the Travel Smart app, or subscribe to receive daily emails.

Register your travel plans

The Government of Canada offers a free registration service for citizens living and travelling abroad. Joining the Registration of Canadians Abroad allows officials to notify you in case of an emergency in the region where you are travelling.  

Know how to contact the Canadian embassy or consulate

Before you head to the airport, take a moment to jot down the location and contact information for the Canadian embassies or consulates in the countries you’ll be visiting. A full list is available online.  To request emergency consular assistance, you can email [e-mail] or call 1-613-996-8885 collect, where available. In many countries, there are also toll-free numbers for the Canadian Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

Save emergency contact numbers for your destination

The U.S. State Department has a list of police, fire and ambulance phone numbers for most countries -- a handy guide for travellers. 

Prepare for possible delays

Security measures have been ramped up at airports, train and bus stations across Europe, so plan accordingly, Hiebert said.

Travellers should make sure that they have enough time between connecting flights and always have their passports and other identification documents ready in case of random checks.

“It will be a slower process, no question,” Hiebert said.