Annapolis, Maryland - July 20, 2004 - iJET® Travel Risk Management (iJET), the industry leader in delivering real-time travel risk management services to multinational corporations and the travel industry, today issued practical advice for travelers to help them avoid delays and disruptions during the final stage of the 2004 Tour de France.

As the charge for the Tour de France title intensifies, hundreds of thousands of spectators from across the globe are anticipated to welcome bicyclists as the event draws to a finish in Paris on July 25. Furthermore, the high season for tourism will attract an additional number of vacationers to the area.

Travelers should expect large crowds along the race route, and severe over congestion of public transportation systems on the final day of the event, particularly at metro stations around the avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe. Taxis may be more difficult than usual to locate, and traffic restrictions may seriously impact bus services. Hotel rooms and restaurants may be unavailable before and during the race, particularly those situated near the Champs-Élysées, and popular tourist attractions will also be more crowded than usual.

In addition to probable transportation delays, travelers should be aware of a rise in pick-pocketers among metro stations in Paris, often groups of teenage boys who remain inconspicuous by disguising themselves as tourists.

iJET offers the following advice to travelers to Paris during the Tour de France:

• Plan alternate routes in race areas to avoid road closures, and avoid public transportation if possible.
• Because of the increased propensity for petty crime during special events, safeguard all valuables and personal belongings; carry only those items that are necessary, and keep a close eye on them, particularly when boarding the Metro and trains.
• If you are traveling in France aboard high-speed and long-distance trains, label each piece of luggage, including carry-on bags, to comply with a new security requirement enacted on July 1.
• If you are traveling to the region, but not for the Tour de France, consider a short trip to a spot outside of the city such as Versailles to avoid congestion and delays.

Travelers planning to leave Paris the first weekend in August can expect significant delays on transportation routes, particularly those leading out of the city, due to the onset of the French summer holiday season. Aeroport de Paris (ADP) officials expect more than 500,000 passengers to pass through Paris´ Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY) airports during this timeframe, labeled by French officials as "red" days to reflect the large numbers of passengers and motorist traveling. The Montparnasse and Lyon train stations in Paris are also expected to be crowded with native travelers.

The Tour de France began in Liege, Belgium on July 3 and traveled to Charleroi, Namur and Waterloo before entering France on the fourth day of the three-week race. For a detailed map of the race route visit the official Tour de France 2004 Web site:
www.letour.fr/2004/us/etapes.html.

iJET Intelligent Risk Systems is a leader in business resiliency, helping multinational corporations and government organizations monitor, protect against and respond to global threats. Integrating world-class open source intelligence with patented technology, iJET’s award-winning Worldcue^® solutions help clients monitor and assess global threats relative to their key people, facilities and supply chain assets; automatically track and communicate with travelers and expatriates; and deploy emergency response services throughout the world at a moment's notice. Providing a unified view of threats to assets, iJET enables clients to mitigate risks, reduce corporate liability and prepare for and respond to business disruptions.

iJET, Worldcue, and Travel Intelligence are registered trademarks owned by iJET. All rights reserved. © 2008 iJET International, Inc.

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