The changes come after St Brelade Constable Steve Pallett accidentally boarded a flight to Budapest in Hungary instead of Bucharest in Romania, where he had been due to collect a flag and deliver a speech in preparation of the Dance World Cup, which is coming to the Island next year.
The trip cost about £1,000.
There is an entire website dedicated to the repeated confusion between Bucharest and Budapest – which was set up by concerned Romanians.
The site mentions several famous people who have erred, including Metallica and Lenny Kravitz, as well as tales from confused travellers.
Following the results of a Freedom of Information request which has been published on the States website, it has emerged that the civil servant who organised the trip never actually saw a copy of Mr Pallett’s invitation to Romania before he or she booked the flights.
The States have stressed that protocol has now changed to ensure that such a mistake does not happen again.
The response to the Freedom of Information request was: ‘From this point on, all travel will be booked following receipt of a written instruction that is accompanied by a copy of the invitation.
‘A travel authorisation form is completed for each travel arrangement.
‘This form details reasons for travel and flight details, and requires approval in line with the department’s scheme of delegation.
‘All correspondence and documentation relating to the travel arrangements will be held with this form with immediate effect.’
Mr Pallett, whose error made national and international headlines, apologised for his part in the mishap and for wasting taxpayers’ money.
Wrong island
Last year Blackheath women’s rugby team travelled to Jersey, having intended to fly to Guernsey for a pre-season game.
Vice-captain Anna Fleming, who booked the flights on behalf of the team, said she realised her error weeks before they arrived but was too scared to tell her 14 teammates.
Once they landed they eventually caught a ferry across the water and faced the Sarnian side. Blackheath won 46-10.
Missing Constable
Former St Mary’s Constable Edwin Godel once travelled to India for a Jersey Overseas Aid trip.
However, while at a train station Mr Godel reportedly hopped on the wrong locomotive and was subsequently missing for around three days.
