If you heard the saying, “Danger is inevitable. Fear is optional,” I think this applies well for travelers and wanderlusts. Danger is out there whether you’re in your home country or in the safest country in the world. But I truly understand if you want to avoid certain places that are considered dangerous. I mean, not everyone is ready to gamble their lives for the sake of fun.
If you are looking for a destination where you can spend your vacation with peace of mind (and your loved ones’ too), you might want to check out my previous article, “The Top 5 Safest Countries to Visit in 2017” or continue reading as I walk you through the most dangerous destinations for American travelers.
Based on the statistics gathered by Data World and Priceonomics, here are the top countries with the most number of Americans killed per 100,000 American tourists, excluding the countries with very few travelers from the US.
Pakistan
“Pakistan is the difficult child of South Asia – blessed with abundant natural and historical riches, but plagued by political instability, which has kept the country off the radar for all but the most hardened explorers.” –Lonely Planet
Number one on the list is, Pakistan. Due to the high security threat level, the Department of State warns all U.S. citizens to defer all non-essential travel to this country.
Thailand
Home to some of the world’s best beaches, there’s no denying that this Asian country is always present in almost everyone’s bucket list. It’s exotic, romantic and best of all, very affordable. No wonder why it’s Asia’s most popular destination for backpackers and honeymooners.
However, this beautiful country ranks second on the most dangerous list. Although there’s no travel warning issued by the U.S. government, it’s highly recommended to exercise a high degree of caution when visiting Thailand due to ongoing political tensions in the country.
Philippines
Third on the list is my home country, Philippines. With more than 7,000 tropical islands to explore, the country has so much to offer for every type of traveler. Aside from being rich in natural beauty, culture and history, one thing that I am most proud of is how hospitable the Filipinos are.
To quote the writer from Lonely Planet, “the people are, simply, Filipinos – and proud of it. Welcoming, warm and relentlessly upbeat, it is they who captivate and ultimately ensnare visitors.”
The country is divided into three major island groups and one of which is facing a major crisis. Because of that, the U.S. government issued a travel warning stating:
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to the city of Marawi, Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago including the southern Sulu Sea, and to exercise extreme caution when traveling to other regions of Mindanao, due to terrorist threats, insurgent activities, and kidnappings.
In these areas, kidnappings-for-ransom of foreigners are common that’s why when planning to visit the country, it’s best to choose destinations in Luzon or Visayas area. As a Filipino resident who is in the Visayan region, I assure you that these parts of the country are still safe for tourists.
Following the Philippines are Haiti and Honduras. To see the complete list of countries, visit this page.
At the end of the day, these are just statistics – it’s still important to always exercise a high degree of caution wherever you choose to travel.
