As Singaporeans travel more and to more far flung places, MFA was asked how it is addressing the increasing demand for consular assistance, especially during times of emergencies.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Sam Tan, encouraged Singaporeans who travel overseas to eRegister with the Ministry and added it has looked to social media to provide timely information on consular matters.
The Ministry is also planning to launch its own smartphone application in the next few months.
Besides providing an easy platform to eRegister, the smartphone application will also assist Singaporeans to locate the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission based on their current location, access consular information and services on-the-go.
Mr Tan also said that while Singapore authorities will do all it can to help citizens in distress overseas, there are "clear limits" to what can be done.
He said expectations of consular services have also risen over time and sometimes, they can be unrealistic.
And while the MFA will continue to provide consular services to Singaporeans to the best of its ability, ultimately, the decision to travel is the responsibility of travellers and they should "do all they can to secure their personal safety".
"Singaporeans when abroad should be prepared to put up with inconveniences, unavoidable frustrations and the occasional delays, especially when dealing with unfamiliar foreign customs, cultures, rules and regulations. At the same time, they must follow the rules and laws of the countries that they are in," he said.
Mr Tan added that the ministry takes the safety and security of Singaporeans abroad very seriously. MFA admits that it is greatly stretched in terms of resources but will continue to improve the quality of consular services.
ORIGINAL SOURCE
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