As you plan for one of these trips, you’ve got a lot to do: packing, travel and hotel arrangements, booking meetings, learning about other cultures or languages, and preparing presentations, contracts and all official documents, etc.

Amid all this busy preparation, there’s one more crucial thing that you must bear in mind: how to keep yourself healthy and protected from disease.

Zika virus is just the latest epidemic of many to watch out for

At the moment, when it comes to global health concerns capturing the attention of the media and general public, the Zika virus is at the top of the list.

The disease is primarily transmitted by mosquito bites, and is now linked to rising cases of microcephaly (a birth defect found in some children whose mothers were infected with Zika) and Guillain-Barré Syndrome in newborns.

The disease is now widespread in almost every country throughout Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean, and new cases have been reported in other nations worldwide.

Travellers are told to take precautions to protect against mosquito bites, especially if they are of childbearing age.

For the latest news on nation-specific outbreaks and general tips on how to prevent Zika infection during travel to countries where the disease is prevalent, Canadians can check the latest notices from the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Americans can do the same via the CDC.

What other diseases and vaccinations do you need to consider before travelling?

Before your next business trip, be sure to check your vaccination records and confirm that they’re up to date. Also consider vaccine recommendations for regionally-specific viruses that may hamper your travel plans.

According to the WHO, the following are considered routine vaccinations:

• Diphtheria
• Hepatitis B
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
• Human papillomavirus
• Seasonal influenza
• Measles
• Mumps
• Pertussis
• Rubella
• Pneumococcal disease
• Poliomyelitis (Polio)
• Rotavirus
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Tetanus
• Varicella

You should also check the health advisories and your immunization records to see if vaccinations for any of the following diseases will also be required:

• Cholera
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis E
• Japanese encephalitis
• Meningococcal disease
• Rabies
• Tick-borne encephalitis
• Typhoid fever
• Yellow fever

On top of Zika, protecting against mosquito bites can also mitigate your risk from diseases which do not currently have vaccines, like malaria, dengue fever, and West Nile virus. If you’re travelling to an area where malaria is a concern, bringing anti-malarial medication (which can be easily acquired prior to international travel) is always a good bet as well.

Where can I find more about the country I’ll be travelling to?

Canadians can consult the aforementioned Public Health Agency of Canada’s list of countries around the world for specific details on which diseases to watch out for in that country, which specific vaccinations to check or have updated, a breakdown of possible diseases by form of transmission (food/water, insects, animals, person-to-person) and related travel health notices.

You can also visit the Government of Canada’s travel health and safety page for travel health notices, information on where to find health clinics abroad, how to avoid diseases, vaccination and insect bite prevention, and other tips for healthy and safe travel around the world.

Americans can visit the CDC’s travel page mentioned above to get specific details on possible diseases and preventative measures  to take by country, as well as travel health notices and public updates about outbreaks and vaccines.

Similar information can also be found for travellers around the world through the WHO’s international travel and health page.

It is also recommended to talk to a medical professional 4-8 weeks before travelling to discuss potential vaccinations, preventative measures and other precautions.

If you have not done so within that time period, you should still see or talk to a medical professional before travelling to be cleared for travel and get any last minute advice.

The post Here’s what you need to know to avoid getting sick during your next business trip appeared first on Trade Ready.

If you’re thinking of taking a trip there soon, here are some tips I’ve picked up through my own travel experiences over the years that can help you prepare to depart.

1. It’s going to take at least a couple days to adjust to the time difference

When travelling from West to East, from Toronto to Beijing, for example, you have a long flight ahead of you – typically around 12 hours, give or take an hour.

I usually take flights that leave at mid-afternoon EST, so I find that it is worth having a meal, watching a movie and then trying to get 3-4 hours rest (I would like to say sleep but I find it really difficult on plane journeys, so I tend to doze).

When you land, you have jumped forward a complete day between the 12 hours of flying and the 13 hour time difference (if landing in Beijing).

It can be 14 hours if your destination is Korea.

Try to stay up to have dinner, and then go to sleep at 9 or 10pm local time (8 or 9am EST) and waking at 7am local time (6pm EST). You will feel lousy from about midday to 4pm local time for the first three days, but then it will improve.

Actually, I find the second day worse than the first day sometimes!

2. Formal dress is often a good idea, but not always necessary

Koreans and Japanese businessmen of all professions seem to love dark coloured jackets and trousers (pants), and our sales colleagues in these countries often wear dark suits.

In China, and certainly Taiwan, dress code can be a bit less formal, but that is just my impression gained from being in our Life Science Research industry for a long time. I am sure for finance, banking, accountancy and other areas of commerce, the dark suit still prevails.

I find that as I get older, travelling and visiting customers with an open necked shirt, chinos and good shoes is fine in most countries. On occasion I will take a blazer, but never a tie unless we are going to a formal dinner.

It is always good to check with your business partner and ask, “Do I need a tie for tomorrow’s meeting/dinner/etc.?” I do this even if I have not brought one! It is easy to buy or borrow a tie locally, and getting a suit made can also be done in 24 hours if needed!

3. Have gifts ready for your meetings, and be prepared to receive some as well

I always take gifts for business partners, but the amount I spend on the gift will vary.

If it is a first meeting with an important distributor, the gift should be nicer ($CAN 50). If you are seeing the same people you have met previously, however, a token gift is acceptable ($10-15).

The trouble with this is that during a 2 week visit to maybe 4 countries, you will meet a lot of people and have a lot of gifts to take!

For example, I take maple syrup in small maple leaf shaped bottles, as they are easy to pack with bubble wrap and don’t take up too much suitcase room. Then I take a number of smaller gifts like key rings for sales people or less senior people.

Receiving gifts in East Asia is interesting. I have been given expensive Gin Seng or small porcelain items, which come boxed with outer packaging that looks beautiful, wonderful souvenirs from my travels.

The trouble is that they take up a lot of suitcase room. So I tend to leave the lovely boxes behind and take only the gift inside! Sounds harsh, I know.

In China and Taiwan, the same happens when I am presented with some sophisticated teas. They can come in elaborate tins which are in lovely box designs. Again, I’m afraid I have left these in hotel rooms and just taken the tea!

4. Handing a business card over in Japan, and in East Asia in general, needs care and attention!

You must take care to look at the person directly, then bow slightly and present your business card with two hands holding a corner of the card with each hand. Your customer should accept the card by taking it in both hands.

When being presented with a card, you reach out with both hands and take the card, again holding each corner, and take a few moments to study the name and title.

Don’t forget: you have to be seen to do this, even if the script is Japanese or Chinese!

5. Be ready to adjust some of your scheduling expectations

Meetings with academics, who make up the bulk of my customers, tend to happen from 10am onwards.

In China, if you call on a customer too early, you may have to wait as he dozes in his office or finishes eating his breakfast.

Some offices of senior people are quite large and double as recreational lounges!

Then it is more common (than in the U.S. or Canada) to go for lunch with the professor and maybe up to 6 of his staff. Normally, these are round table affairs, with some 12 or 15 people around the table.

Food is presented one dish at a time on a lazy Susan, which the host will spin around to ensure that the guest will have first choice of the latest dish. This lucky guest may get to taste some often delicious, but sometimes not so appetizing unique regional specialties!

Lunch can be a two hour affair, so it is common to return with the professor and his staff to the lab for a tour and a selling discussion or formal lecture.

In East Asia, eating times generally tend to follow U.S. timing. Dinner is the one possible exception, as it can start a bit later than in North America, often around 7 to 7:30pm.

Visiting this part of the world with their rich culture and unique customs for hospitality and business is always an unforgettable experience. And doing thorough research on the cultural intricacies will make it a lot less daunting. Happy travels!

Are there any tips you would add based on your experiences?

The post 5 things you need to know when planning your next business trip to East Asia appeared first on Trade Ready.