Here are world's safest and most-unsafe travel destinations for 2019
As we are stepping into 2019, we have also started making our travel lists. However, travelers, especially solo travelers have to now choose their travel destinations carefully due to rising conflicts in many countries. Thus, giving a heads up, world's largest travel security services firm International SOS and Control Risks have recently released a map highlighting the safest and the most-unsafe countries for travel.
International SOS and Control Risks have separated the risk levels into three categories- extreme, high, medium and low-insignificant risks. 'Extreme travel-risk' areas are where government law and order may be minimal, government and transport functions barely functional, and have serious threats of violence targeting travelers.
In the category of extreme risks lie some major parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The countries with 'Extreme risks' of travel are- Libya, Mali, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, and Syria. Most of the aforementioned places are war-torn countries. In Mali, following the French/African military intervention in January 2013, there is a high threat of retaliatory kidnap against western interests.
International SOS defined 'High travel risks' for areas where protests are frequently violent, and may target or disrupt foreigners. Also, where communal, sectarian, racial violence is common and foreigners may be directly targeted and certain parts of the country are inaccessible or off-limits to travelers.
Countries with high travel risks include Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Papa New Guinea, and some parts of Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia Turkey, Myanmar, and Thailand. You might want to strike-off holiday in places like the Red Sea, Mexico City, and Cairo. Also, places in India like Bihar, Jharkhand and certain areas in the northeast are classified under high-risk.
Areas that are defined as Medium risks are known to have periodical political unrest, violent protests, insurgency and sporadic acts of terrorism. In these places, travelers may face risk from communal, sectorial or racial violence. The capacity of emergency and security services and infrastructure varies.
Those which are included in the list of medium travel risk countries are Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Angola, Madagascar, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nairobi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Bolivia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Jamaica and majority of India. These countries are not entirely unsafe to go, and have many beautiful destinations, but it wouldn't hurt to be alert and careful during your travel.
Coming to the low-insignificant risk destinations, they are the safest places to travel. These are defined as places where violent crime rates are low, and where there are no significant civil violence or political unrest. Also places where sectarian/communal violence against foreigners is low.
Countries with low travel risks include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Sweden, Argentina, Chile China, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Australia. And, finally, the countries with insignificant travel risks are Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Denmark, and Norway. These countries are marked largely safe for travel, now you have a fair idea of where to go.
