Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
What is a "dangerous" travel destination?
I've been thinking long and hard about what it means to travel to a "dangerous" destination lately because I'm in the process of planning a 2-month trip to Cuba. While Cuba is not considered "dangerous" to citizens of other countries, it does send a little shiver up an American's spine when thinking about the potential consequences of traveling there without a visa, which I might end up doing. I guess sneaking into Cuba through Mexico or Canada may classify more as "risky" rather than "dangerous," but I am always willing to take risks so long as I know I will not inevitably put myself in danger. A possible $10,000 fine is quite a price to pay for a visit to a country closed to Americans, however, so I know it's important to tread lightly.So I proceeded to do some research on how to estimate a "dangerous" place in the world, and I found the results quite startling. According to Fabiola Hernandez over at Associated Content, the 5 most dangerous countries in the world are Colombia, South Africa, Jamaica, Venezuela, and Russia. Hernandez goes so far to say that, "You wouldn't want to be caught dead living there, literally." But do I trust her opinion? Not at all.
This list was generated from a kind-of-handy statistical website called NationMaster.com that spits out national information ranging from Agriculture to Terrorism. Hernandez seemed quick to compile her list by searching for "Crime -- Murder per capita." The "most recent" results of my search are the same as the results Hernandez found nearly two years ago, which leads me to believe NationMaster.com is not at all up-to-date and, therefore, its information is misleading.
I could not disagree more with Hernandez's list. First, it is completely void of volatile countries in the Middle East. Secondly, I traveled in Colombia, the country at the top of her list, for three months during the spring of 2008 and never felt safer there. Medellín, Colombia's second largest city that Pablo Escobar made famous, is largely misunderstood. While it may have been the "Murder Capital of the World" five short years ago, this city is quite safe, quite lovely, and quite a tourist hotspot.
I have never been to the other four nations on the list. While I've heard that these countries do indeed have their dangerous regions and cities, I know for a fact that there are also some really wonderful, worthwhile places within their borders that it would be a pity if fear prevented a traveler from going there.
I find Hernandez's estimation of "danger" quite askew, and I feel lists like this are harmful and largely misinterpreted. Sure, the percentage of murders in a country is one thing that could make a place dangerous, but what about terrorism, civil war, theft, and rape? More importantly, fear is the thing that prevents so many travelers from leaving the "safety" of their home. I believe, with proper precautions, even the most dangerous place is just as safe as sitting on your couch. Additionally, you are seeing the world and experiencing life for real, in its rawest, most natural form.
Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Stories, Africa, Oceania, South America, South Africa, Russian Federation, Cuba, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela, News, Travel Health
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MT Jan 6th 2009 2:50PM
Good to see you have discovered what many experienced travellers consider one of South America's best kept secrets.
Al Capone still haunts the city by the lake, know as Che-ka-go. And Pablo Escobar's ghost will probably haunt Medellin, Colombia for years to come, but don't be fooled by Medellin's past reputation because today it is the second hottest travel destination in Colombia, second only to the old city of Cartagena. The number one reason for Medellin's revival has to be the Paisas, as the locals are called in the state of Antioquia. To learn more about Medellin, Colombia visit http://www.medellintraveler.com Vive Colombia!
ParentalGuidance Jan 6th 2009 7:35PM
Brenda, curious statements about Colombia. Do you not denty it still has one of the highest levels of recorded murder in the world? Does your slightly over-optimistic-sounding experience mean it' is as safe as anywhere? Does your 'opinion' really count?
The dark reason for Medellin becoming so much safer is because right wing death squads have been legalised and have cleaned up the city, freeing it from the jobless thugs who were responsibnle for most of the anarchy.
Good Times in Medellin Jan 6th 2009 9:51PM
ParentalGuidance,
You obviously have NO IDEA about what is happening in Medellin, Colombia.
Here is something to read to help you better understand some of the reasons as to how Medellin has made such a remarkable turnaround in such a short time. I am from Chicago were the schools are not safe for children to attend, we have the highest murder rate in schools here in the USA.
I have made multiple trips to Medellin and have spent many nights in some of the poorest neighborhood in the shanty towns built high up in the mountains.
http://medellin-colombia.blogspot.com/2007/10/walking-and-talking-in-medellin.html
You know not what of you speak of.
Max Hartshorne Jan 6th 2009 9:22PM
I went to Colombia in August to the Pacific coast. It was full of fantastically friendly people and soldiers who have bases up and down the coast and protect and guard citizens and travelers. I went in 2007 to Medellin and met wonderful people and stayed out late in the streets. It was not dangerous. Colombia needs travelers to realize that they have left their problems behind and are now on the way to becoming the hottest tourism destination in South America.
Mike Jan 6th 2009 9:35PM
Another satisfied customer who went to Colombia here... Went to Bogota then from Cartagena up the coast to Tayrona National Park.
Can't speak for any other part of the country, but we felt completely safe the entire time. It's sad the warnings we got before we went. People should never give "advice" about a place they haven't been.
Jill Gaffigan Jan 6th 2009 10:23PM
In some cases, proper precautions might include an armoured car and body guard, to be as safe as sitting on ones own couch.
To each his own on the risk taking, but I think your comment is reckless and misleading.
Eva Jan 6th 2009 10:46PM
Interesting post, Brenda! And I have to agree -- not sure exactly what methodology she used, but there is no way those five countries (Colombia, South Africa, Jamaica, Venezuela, and Russia) are the world's most dangerous.
How about the places that are so unstable that no one even keeps track of crime statistics? Somalia and the Congo spring to mind. Afghanistan's no picnic these days, either, or Haiti. (Or the Gaza strip?)
One question to ask with these lists is: Dangerous for whom? Dangerous for locals, or for tourists?
Because it's true, not many foreigners are dying in the Congo. But that doesn't change the fact that the local population has been ravaged by war, disease, etc, etc. And even if she means dangerous for tourists: I wouldn't think twice about visiting any of the countries she listed. I would be most careful in Jamaica (Kingston in particular has a very nasty reputation) but I would still go.
As for her statement: "You wouldn't want to be caught dead living there, literally."
That's just inflammatory nonsense. Not to mention a tad disrespectful of all the millions of people who DO successfully make their lives in those countries. I bet some of them wouldn't even want to leave, given the choice...
Brenda SFO Jan 7th 2009 10:24PM
I totally agree with you Eva! I've felt more danger in many US cities than I ever did in South Africa! Yes, there are problems there, but I'd go back to that beautiful country in a heartbeat. Somalia, the Congo, Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip, and other parts of the Middle East, are far more dangerous in my opinion.
Julie Jan 7th 2009 11:37AM
Brenda-
Always an interesting issue. I've written a post about supposedly dangerous countries that addresses similar concerns:
http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/tips-for-traveling-in-dangerous-places/
And as someone who lives in Mexico City for part of the year, I have to say that I agree with American expat and journalist David Lida: danger is largely about our perceptions, not facts. Statistics about Mexico City, he says, are never put into context. When examined per capita and compared to other big cities in North America, Mexico City is actually safer than most US cities.
As for Cuba, it's one of the least dangerous countries on the planet. Penalties for violent crimes are severe., and while it's not unheard of (my own stepson's sister was killed by a jealous boyfriend two years ago in Havana), the violent crime rate is among the lowest in the world.
I've been 7 or 8 times, so if you have any questions during the travel planning process, please feel free to contact me.
paul Jan 7th 2009 1:05PM
Um, when illegally visiting a country that could net you a $10,000 fine, it's probably not a good idea to announce it on a blog.
parentalGuidance Jan 7th 2009 9:12PM
Good Times in Medellin, nice spin and a slur on Chicago. Medellinis, in fact, FAR more dangerous than Chicago. The stats say that and I've been to both cities. Hearuing full blown machine gunfire popping about in the hills around is something you don't hear Chicago. How the hell you make Chicago more dangerous is beyond me it isn't even dangerous!
parentalGuidance Jan 7th 2009 9:33PM
Okay let's calm down. When I see people playing with security situations I get angry.
Out of curiosity Brenda, what Comunas or districts did you visit? Give me the names or numbers.
There almost seems to be an unwritten rule that you canb butcher cities like Chicago for crime and are slaughtered if you say anythning bad about Medellin now, even if you're talking factually. Call me an idiot but I do find that just a little bit weird. For unbiased folks overcome by the whiff of political bullshine from Brenda and 'Good Times in Medellin' :
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2007/data/table_08_il.html (note: about 16 per 100,000)
http://www.medellin.gov.co/irj/go/km/docs/EstadisticasGobierno/tasa872008.pdf
Paramilitary influence on Medellin's cerime:
http://www.ciponline.org/colombia/blog/archives/000296.htm
Btw, Medellin is still more dangerous than those American areas, they're using dodgy statistics.
How dare people try and cover up murders In Medellin and bring Chicago into this. Do not besmirch a safer city like that.
Amanda Jan 8th 2009 4:56AM
Russia? I've been there twice and the second time I took my 65-year-old mother with me, backpacking - so I would obviously not consider that on any kind of "danger" list. Good post, Brenda.
parentalGuidance Jan 8th 2009 7:40AM
American cities are not anywhere as dangerous as South African or Colombian cities, more comments which just sound like absolute, random rubbish. There is no comparison. See it's fashionable for some unknown reason to criticize the US for crime while not more dangerous places. 'I felt safer in the Congo thatn the US' blah blah heard it all before. South Africa is normally overhyped, certainly compared to Colombia but not the US which really isn't a violent place at all.
I believe the guy also made a point that he was excluding war zones that don't keep count of bodies so his list wasn't that bad apart from Medellin's out of date numbers.
Mike, living somewhere is different from going on holiday under controlled condoitions. Maybe you could pay one of the big city graveyards in Colombia a visit and make a note of how many were murdered during your time there if you give them the dates? You give the amazing impression that no murders, not a single murder would've taken place when you wnet. You went to one of the safest parts as well.
I've been to Medellin four times. I never saw any crime (because I tend to stay in nice areas probably) apart from hearing at times very considerable and disturbing levels of gunfire in the distant hillside th slums - nothing like a city with a paltry violence problem such as Chicago. This was in the mid 90's and early 00's. When I visited again in 06 it had calmed down massively and I never heard anything, thanks mainly to right wing militia who have been given a green light to rid the city of neighbourhood bandits.
It's a two-sided coin, think about that and please read my links which are serious scientific analyses not tourist advertisements like some people have been posting. Read them as well if you want but their hardly balanced.
Medellin is safe to visit but it's a big city with nice and bad areas like every big city, chances are you're not going to go to the barrios are you?
Mexico City is more dangerous than most US cities - not safer. Another factoid attacking US crime, ho hum.
http://www.iammyownreporter.com/fromtheandes.htm
A nakedly honest and fair portrayeal of Medellin. Scroll down about a third.
ParentalGuidance Jan 9th 2009 11:36PM
these are the murder rates of American cities featured in one of the otherwise excellent reports I postend, compared to Medellin for the previous year the 2006 report said (2005). The US numbers arenot correct.
Medellin with 3,266,636 residents had 1,161 murders / 36 per 100,000
Baltimore with 2,659,312 residents had 338 murders / 12 per 100,000
Detroit with 4,496,826 residents had 440 murders / 9 per 100,000
Washington with 5,187,049 residents had 431 murders / 8 per 100,000
Atlanta with 4,837,981 residents had 334 murders / 6 per 100,000
http://www.nationmaster.com/static/cccr2005.pdf
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_06.html