AIBU to go on two week work trip to far east on my own.

[Misssssssfoxx]

I work in the uk for a company with premises internationally. Some foreign travel is expected as part of my job requirement (Fine.)
However I have found out that I am expected to undertake a two week posting to a country in the far east on my own. This will be the first time I have visited this location or continent.
For context travel will involve multiple locations on the county (some more provincial, some city), so internal flights also, and I willlhave to spend a weekend in a city there.
usually the type of work is do is done by a team and the company has budget to send two people. For context , country not member of Hague convention and had a poor human right record, country also does not have western internet interfaces- google , also no western payment methods available. etc.
I am concerned about travelling l on my own.
AIBU ? Responses appreciated so that I can navigate this appropriately. Thanks.

Wouldn’t bother me in the slightest. I travel on my own for work all the time, including to Asia. I’d enjoy the experience. It’s not like your company won’t do a risk assessment.

I’d enjoy the opportunity to travel to a new and unusual place. Sure it’d be nerve wracking but also very exciting. My general attitude is ‘people seem to live and work there without mass harm - I’ll be grand’.

Sounds like North Korea OP? You need to make sure your corporate travel insurance policy is watertight and will pay for diplomatic expenses if needed - I'd frame it as an amazing way to visit a country most of us would never have access to.

But you will be monitored every step of the way, from the minute you leave your seat on the plane.

The great thing about work travel is your employer will very much want it to succeed and presumably you will have colleagues who work in that location so they will be able to help. It's not like travelling independently where it's all down to you. Embrace the opportunity and enjoy it!

It's part of your job, so no issue there and presumably your work have sent dozens, if not more, people there in the past so will have very clear protocols for how it is all managed to keep you safe and supported. I used to travel abroad for and I have never even thought about The Hague convention or similar - that seems a bit overly-anxious to me. I went to Columbia once, which also doesn't have great optics in terms of safety and security, but I had a ball. Was in a nice, safe hotel with good transport arrangements, it was no different to going anywhere else to be honest. Enjoy!

Which country? I’ve a global role so international visits are the norm.

Oh I once lived somewhere (for four years) with crap internet, no cashpoints, 8,000 miles away - one of the most remote places in the world - and not only did I survive, I thrived. You will be amazed at how you can fare without a lot of the 'mod cons', honestly.

Yanbu to go on two week work trip to far east on my own

Yabu to be scared / not want to go

I would definitely speak with IT about a “clean” phone for China /Wherever and how data security is going to be managed. I would leave you personal phone at home.

But yeah, totally normal expectation.

Which country? I’ve lived and travelled in many countries in Asia (on my own). Might help people give advice if they know where.

Lots of questions. Are you experienced in that part of the world? Would you be staying in big Western style hotels? Is it somewhere where women have little or no presence in the corporate sphere? Do you have the required language skills? If not, I would be pressing for a colleague with those qualifications to go with you, or failing that, a local agent to meet you on arrival and travel with you. What are the current Foreign Office guidelines on travel to this country? Will your company pay for very comprehensive travel insurance? It could be an amazing opportunity but you need to be sure your safety and security are sensibly addressed.

Ok , thanks for the responses , they are appreciated. From a work perspective I am fine, although usually this work would be done as a team. It’s from a general safety and risk perspective, i am aware of issues that other colleagues have had even when in a group, such as payment methods failing, undergoing enhanced security checks etc, general risk of missing flights / falling ill.

I have travelled everywhere on my own, and can't say I have ever thought of the Hague Convention.

I was using that for context to give a general understanding of the county , without actually naming it.

Why not name it?

I really think you need to name it so people can advise you better.But surely the local team will help with the other issues you mention

I’m assuming it’s not North Korea, so presumably is China.

It is thankfully not part of my job description to travel so I decline trips, but we have many sites globally others travel to where they have to have armed guards to take them from hotel to office and they cannot leave the hotel unaccompanied.

i am with a large multinational and they are very on the ball with security going to these places and anyone going needs to take a training course specific to that country/location before they go.

You can just say China. It won’t be outing 🤣

If you name the country it’s not outing in any way. We have no idea who you are, so why can’t you just tell us where you’re going?

China

People can give you much better advice if you name the country. It's not outing, thousands of people likely travel there each week!

Also I wouldn't put much stock in anecdotes about falling ill or missing flights - those things can happen anywhere - but it's helpful to have information about common issues previous travellers have experienced so that you can avoid them - hence naming the place to get specific advice based on experience.

Big country - which cities? Trains and air travel is good - well organised country. Easy for travel to major networks.

well i live in iraq so nowhere really bothers me to be honest

My husband travels to Shanghai regularly for work, Op. The people are incredibly kind and it’s a super safe and clean city.

They don’t take card over there generally though, so ensure you have plenty of cash! I think they use Alipay?