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AN interactive map created by International SOS warns vacationers about the world’s most dangerous countries to visit. These are places where tourists might face political unrest, crime, and other forms of violence.
The Risk Map also shows countries at risk due to climate change. Countries like Ukraine, Libya, Syria, and Iraq are marked as having an “extreme” security risk. On a brighter note, the map also highlights the safest countries to visit, such as Greenland, Norway, Finland, Iceland, or Luxembourg.
“For the coming year, geopolitical tensions, unrest and political instability are expected to impact business operations. This is reflected in the map with the Sahel, parts of the Middle East and Ukraine in the ‘high’ or ‘extreme’ security risk category,” said Sally Llewellyn, Global Security Director, at International SOS.
She added that International SOS continues to help organizations operating in these risky locations by providing verified information and advice on how such risks will affect their workforce or by supporting evacuations where needed.
Most of Europe, the USA, China and Canada are among the safest places to travel, as reported by the Irish Star. On the other hand, countries like South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Kenya, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, the Philippines, Iran, Turkey and Russia are seen as medium risk.
As conflicts change, so do risk ratings. This year, Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories, and Russia have all seen their risk ratings increase. Ecuador and parts of Colombia have also been bumped up the risk category due to political unrest. On a brighter note, El Salvador and Nepal have had their ratings lowered after improvements in several risk factors.
Meanwhile Michael Rogers, Chief Security Analyst at International SOS, said the propensity for geo-political or socio-economic developments, natural hazards and other threats requires that travellers remain well informed and prepared for short-notice and sometimes high-impact disruptions.
“Organisations should emphasise the importance of pre-travel risk assessment as well as situational awareness for travelling employees to navigate travel risks effectively. It is also crucial for organisations to have clear communication protocols in place for reporting security incidents and ensuring that prompt assistance is readily available when needed,” he remarked.
He added that in the event of a significant incident, clear, wide-reaching proactive communication from security management covering the organisation’s response goes a long way toward appeasing anxieties and elucidating the next steps.
“By implementing proactive measures and fostering a culture of risk awareness, employers can empower their workforce to make informed decisions and enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season,” Rogers concluded. [the mirror US/photo special]
