Traveling is an activity that is enjoyed by tens of millions of people all over the world and all year round. And while there are many tourist-friendly destinations, in Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, Canada and the United States that have much to offer in terms of attractions, activities, hotels and dining options, there are still places, where there is always a threatening risk – risk of getting robbed, kidnapped, caught in a tourism scam, or be at the wrong place at the wrong time. To avoid visiting such places in today’s somehow dangerous world, TravelVivi.com has chosen 5 destinations, excluding those that are more or less obvious, where there are currently (17 October, 2012) military conflicts or are terrorist hotspots (Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lybia, Somalia and others) or are so much politically isolated like North Korea, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar/Burma, that your risk is absolutely unjustified. Read on to get acquainted with the countries we consider you should remove from your lists, simply avoid visiting such destinations or exercise extreme caution and know what to expect! Article is not politically motivated and is just Travelvivi’s opinion. Feel free to leave your comments agreeing and disagreeing, adding your thoughts on this.
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Papua New Guinea
A developing country in the southwest Pacific, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most exotic, beautiful and still unspoiled countries in Asia that has much on offer, from great scuba diving amid the coral reefs to amazing wildlife sanctuaries that are home to multitudes of colorful birds and the world’s largest butterflies, to a range of interesting sites waiting to be explored and experience. At the same time, PNG is a country, where violent crime is a serious threat in many areas.
There are several reasons that contribute to crime in PNG and one of them is particularly the fact that the country, although politically one nation, is made up of more than eight hundred separate societies with unique languages. There is absence of traditional village social control and growing social strains when residents of formerly isolated communities come into contact with each other. Another significant contributor to crime is the country’s incomplete and halting transition from a subsistence agriculture economy to one offering a broader range of jobs. And the least but not last fact why crime is so popular in PNG is that it does not have a tradition of strong local police authorities.
In recent years numerous U.S. citizen residents and visitors have been victims of violent crime, suffering even from severe injuries. Robbery, rape, carjacking, armed robberies and stoning of vehicles are some of the types of crime available in and around major cities of PNG, including Port Moresby, Lae, Mount Hagen and Goroka, while it’s also dangerous to travel in isolated rural areas, as well as visit such unguarded public sites, as parks, golf courses, beaches, or cemeteries.
However, in case you decide to visit PNG, the only good way to enjoy the country’s pleasures avoiding street crime is to take advantage of organized tours run by reliable and experienced operators.
Haiti
Many say Haiti is one of Caribbean’s best-kept secrets, with stunning natural beauty, magnificent architectural attractions and rich culture and history. However, the U.S. State Department, along with a number of other countries considers Haiti unsafe for tourists, as there is a high level of criminal activity and violence throughout the country that includes small but growing risk of kidnapping. This is mainly because Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history and is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
The violent crime prevails especially in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, which though offering some fabulous beaches and a number of good sights, is not recommended to visit. However, in case you decide to travel to Haiti, make sure to register on their Web site, avoid wearing jewelry, travel in pairs or small groups, as well as stay away from shantytowns like Cite Soleil, La Saline and Bel Air and Martissant, where gang activity, carjacking and theft are common.
Azerbaijan
Located in the Caucasus of southeastern Europe and sharing borders with Georgia, Turkey, Armenia, Iran, Caspian Sea coastline and Russia, Azerbaijan formed as a nation and country in the beginning of 20th century. It is known as the ‘Land of Fires’ and is in the list of 5 dangerous places tourists avoid visiting; and not for nothing. Though blessed with spectacularly beautiful nature and a wealth of attractions, including a great many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which azeris claim to be their heritage, Azerbaijan, rich with oil and gas, still remains one of those countries, where there are concerns regarding freedom of expression and freedom of the media, as well as worries of being mugged or robbed, attacked or being insulted, and be a subject to a physical attack because of your skin color, ethnic origin or religion. Azerbaijan recently came into light of international media after releasing, pardoning and giving a national hero status to a convicted axe murderer Ramil Safarov.
This is maybe a result of the country’s history that has seen many wars, conquers and events, which have undoubtedly left a mark in both the character of locals and the atmosphere of the country.
Azerbaijan has seen a downward trend in the number of crimes committed against foreigners. Foreigners are at a great risk in areas attracting large crowds or in every isolated area. There have been several reports from individuals who have been victims of crimes occurring late at night in bars frequented by Westerners. There have also been reports from a number of women complaining of unwanted male attention, including groping and other offensive behavior, as well as reports of vehicle break-ins at regional tourist sites and more, much more.
If you ever happen to visit Azerbaijan, be sure to follow the following tips: do not walk alone at night in dark and unlit streets; try to arrange to be picked up or dropped off as close to your hotel as possible by a taxi accredited to the hotel you are staying in, and avoid showing large sums of money in public or taking your valuables with you.
Egypt
Unlike the above mentioned destinations, Egypt is popular travel hotspot among tourists, as it’s home to such renowned ancient sites, as the Pyramids of Giza, the Temples of Luxor and Abu Simbel, the town of Aswan and Alexandria – Egypt’s ‘second city’ to name but a few, as well as never-ending activities that include everything from fantastic scuba diving in the Red Sea and snorkeling in Sharm el-Sheik, to superb golfing and River Nile cruising.
However, when traveling to Egypt, you should avoid certain areas, where there is a high crime rate. These are particularly sites found in the center of Nile Valley, including Minya, Asyut and Sohag, which though unfortunately boasting some of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt (the beautiful tombs at Beni Hassan in Minya, the majestic monasteries of Asyut and the Temple of Abydos in Sohag), have been the place where certain incidents occurred during the 80s-90s against targeting the tourist industry.
Well-worth avoiding is also the visit to the North Sinai area, where, in recent years, a significant increase in criminal activities has been noticed. The security situation outside of the resort areas in the Governorate of South Sinai has also deteriorated since early 2012, and there have been a number of hijacks and kidnaps in the interior of the Governorate. There have been reports of serious sexual assaults on women, as well as a number of arrests during demonstrations, including British and other foreign nationals.
Laos
There are many things that make Laos a must-visit for many tourists traveling through Southeast Asia, usually en route to or from Cambodia, Thailand or Vietnam. They include: Lao’s World Heritage City of Luang Prabang, Si Phan Don or the ‘Four Thousand Islands’ and the Pha That Luang, add to this the myriad of adventure, from caving to visiting Hill Tribes to river tubing.
Crime scene in Laos is low at first sight, but this does not mean that you should not exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in this getaway. Crime committed against tourists is very often non-confrontational in nature and primarily consists of purse snatching, thefts, pick pocketing, and unattended property (purses, shopping bags, passport, etc.). There have been incidents where tourists have had their drinks or food drugged, which has lead to the victim being assaulted. So, make sure to never leave your food or drink out of sight.
When in Laos, be also careful when undertaking water-based activities, I mean choose reliable tour operators to organize your activity, as incidents of drowning and serious injuries have been reported.
Luca is a travel photographer and luxury explorer who brings destinations to life through curated guides and stunning visuals.