The Ministry of Foreign Affairs modernizes Odysseus. It will also be available in mObywatel during the holidays

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on the modernization of Odysseus; it will also be available in mObywatel and – according to the plans of the Ministry of Diplomacy – it will become a more friendly tool for users of instant messengers and social networking sites, and in a crisis situation it will help Poles leave a dangerous place more efficiently.

The project is worth over PLN 3 million, and its expenses will be covered by the National Reconstruction Plan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to complete work on it by the end of June, so as to provide the new tool in time for the holidays.

Director of the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Justyna Chrzanowska, told PAP that the crisis related to the situation in the Middle East and the issue of the return of compatriots from countries in the region, Asia or even Africa have made many Poles realize how important it is to be well prepared for departure and register in the Odyseusz system. Chrzanowska emphasized that this situation confirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the right decision was to start work on the modernization of Odyseusz, which was launched 12 years ago and was developed during the first term of office of the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski.

The Odyseusz system is a free website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, used to register foreign trips by Polish citizens. The notification allows the consular service to quickly contact and transmit important warnings to registered citizens. Primarily in crisis situations, such as riots, armed conflicts or natural disasters.

Advertisement

As Chrzanowska told PAP, the popularity of Odyseusz increases after each crisis and results in an increase in the number of registrations in the system. However – as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs points out – unfortunately, the peak in enrollment usually falls during the crisis.

Chrzanowska emphasized that she would like citizens to have the impulse to check the level of warnings for travelers before leaving and look for information about the destination country of departure, which is currently available in several places, such as the Polak zagrana website.

– In order to make traveling easier for Poles, we will introduce a major modernization of Odysseus. This is a very large project that we would like to complete by the end of June this year. It is worth over PLN 3 million, and its expenses will be covered from the KPO. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs obtained funds from it to provide Poles with a better product, which will also be available in mObywatel and will be one integrated place where you will be able to obtain the most important information before traveling, Chrzanowska noted. She emphasized that Odysseus would continue to be a voluntary tool.

– Now it will be easier to find information in one place. For example, you will be able to subscribe only to notifications about changes in travel warnings in the profile of a given country without the obligation to register your trip. There will also be a special tool that will facilitate the procedure for those interested in returning, should such support be needed. This will also help consuls, said the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The change is intended to allow in the future to clearly and quickly estimate how many people need such help. The official noted that consuls do not keep a permanent register of Polish citizens abroad and the data they have is estimated. This was a challenge during the recent crisis, when the ministry only had estimates on this matter. – We knew that in the case of the Middle East it was about 22,000. people, and in the case of countries further into Asia it could have been 14,000. people. That didn't mean any of these people were interested in coming back. We also have people staying there long-term or having their families there, Chrzanowska told PAP.

A greater share of instant messengers will now make it easier for travelers registered in Odyseusz. – We are aware that our citizens very often turn off data transmission when staying abroad, but use instant messaging and the Internet, which is available for free in many places around the world – Chrzanowska noted.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed PAP that the new version of Odysseus provides for the use of push notifications, if necessary – short, clickable messages displayed in real time on the screens of smartphones, tablets or computer browsers. They are used to directly inform users, even when the application is not open. Require user consent.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to promote Odysseus, among others. engaging citizens in a competition for a new logo for the portal, which will be announced soon; The European Day for Safe Travel Abroad, celebrated on May 22, will also be a good opportunity. Chrzanowska reassures those who – as she noted – perceive Odysseus as a tool straight from Orwell's “1984”, i.e. used for surveillance. She assured that the data provided by compatriots to Odyseusz is protected by the GDPR, and after the expiry of the registered trip, it is deleted from the system.

As Chrzanowska pointed out, the changes in Odyseusz were prepared in accordance with the amended consular law, and the public procurement, which selected the contractor for the new system from among the 14 who joined the procedure, was carried out based on the Public Procurement Law.

In parallel to the changes in Odyseusz, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is focusing on dialogue with travel agencies and insurance companies. A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told PAP that the ministry wants them to be guided not only by warnings for travelers and the needs of various recipient groups, but also to be more involved in educating travelers. According to Chrzanowska, the goal is for Poles to decide to purchase insurance appropriate to the type of holiday, taking into account the threats that exist in a given region of the world, but also the activities planned during the holiday.

– If someone goes on a vacation that involves risk because they plan to dive, climb, paraglide or flies to areas covered by level two warnings (in the four-level warning scale of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – PAP note), should consider purchasing appropriate insurance. It does not have to be a very expensive matter, and it is not worth saving on insurance adequate to a given trip, she emphasized.

Meanwhile, Poles often forget to take their EHIC card with them, which entitles them to use public health care in the European Union and EFTA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) as well as Great Britain and Northern Ireland. – Even a peaceful holiday in European countries may be associated with dangerous accidents and the need for medical transport, the payment of which may require additional commercial insurance – emphasized the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Another issue that should be taken into account by travelers preparing for a holiday in distant countries is transfers in large transport hubs in the Middle East. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds that the situation in the region is still not easy to predict and returning, for example, from Asian destinations via these airports may end in extended holidays, which is also worth considering in terms of purchasing adequate insurance.

Tourists – as noted by PAP's interlocutor – rarely think about the fact that holidays, especially those filled with sports activities, may end in an accident and, as a result, the need to provide medical transport. As it turns out, if it concerns non-EU countries such as Egypt, it can cost an uninsured traveler many thousands of zlotys. (PAP)

wni/ jpn/