One of the most important factors to consider when picking the perfect holiday destination is safety. When planning your next trip, you should remember to check the latest news and current events on which countries are struggling in terms of security and safety, so as not to put yourself and/or your loved ones at risk of crimes, terrorism, wars, violence, illnesses, or natural disasters.

Afghanistan

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, or simply Afghanistan, is a country in South and Central Asia entirely enclosed by land, and occupying a total land area of 653,000 square kilometres. Home to about 35 million people, it is considered a high risk area due to widespread tension, fighting, and military operations.

Going to several districts, such as Kapisa, Nangahar, Nuristan, Khost, Paktiya, Kandahar, Zabul, Nimroz, Farah, Jowzjan, Baghlan, and Takhar, is strongly discouraged, and exploring the rest of the country, if really needed, should be done with professional security and armoured vehicles.

Colombia

Home to 50 million people, Colombia is a South American country bordered by Panama to the northwest, Brazil and Venezuela to the east, and Peru and Ecuador to the south. In recent years, it has ranked among the world’s most dangerous places to visit because of the dangers brought about by natural disasters, medical outbreaks, and drug-related violence.

Due to landslides during the rainy seasons, tourists have been warned to avoid visiting Colombia that time of the year, and, instead, schedule their trips around December to March when the weather is more pleasant and lovely.

Contracting Zika virus in Colombia is also a major risk, as more than 20,200 cases of the mosquito-borne virus infecting children and adults have been reported in the last few years.

There is also a travel advisory against visiting areas by the border shared with Venezuela because of the prominence of illegal armed groups and militia, drug traffickers, bombings, and kidnappings.

Dominican Republic

Caribbean’s most visited destination, Dominican Republic is a country known for its many gorgeous beach resorts, Spanish-era buildings and structures, vibrant music and dances, and delicious dishes. It sits on the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, and is home to more than 10.2 million people.

However, due to the vast damage and destruction it experiences every hurricane season, which runs from June to November, tourists are warned to avoid the country this time of the year to not endanger themselves of flooding, and others.

Visitors are also told to stay away from areas close to the border as cases of armed theft and robbery are quite common there.

India

The world’s seventh largest and second most populous country, India is a South Asian country with an abundance of incredible natural wonders and important historic and cultural landmarks. Home to about 1.32 billion people, it is known for the Taj Mahal, which is an exquisite Indian architectural masterpiece; its major contributions to literature, music, dance, and film and television; and great tasting cuisine.

However, due to severe levels of air pollution around the country, risk of Zika virus transmission, and Nipah Virus outbreak, tourists with pre-existing medical conditions and who are elderly are advised to find alternative places to visit to not put themselves at risk of any serious medical condition or problem.

Violence against women is also a rampant problem in many parts of India, with rape and harassment cases hitting the world headlines many times in the last several years. Among India’s states, Bihar topped the most unsafe for women list, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jharkland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. On the other hand, Goa, Kerala, Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Kamataka, and Punjab were ranked as the safest.

North Korea

North Korea is an East Asian country home to more than 25 million people. It is infamous for its controversial political ideologies, alleged human rights violations, prisoners of war, nuclear threats, and leader Kim Jong Un.

Over the years, several tourists have been detained and sent to the brutal and torturous prison camps of North Korea due to a variety of reasons, from seemingly harmless acts, like stealing a banner and leaving bible tracts, to serious charges, like crimes against the state and attempts to overthrow the regime.

One that made global news recently was the story of a 22-year-old American who was imprisoned in North Korea for 17 months, and returned to the United States in 2017 in a state of coma. Unfortunately, he died after a few days due to the injuries sustained in the prison camp.

If North Korea is on your bucket list, you should know that there are travel advisories against visiting the country. Getting in the country is difficult and expensive, and getting out is not always guaranteed. While many have entered and exited it unscathed, there are also ones that were not as lucky.

Nigeria

Located in West Africa, Nigeria is a country of almost 200 million people, bordered to the north by Niger, to the east by Cameroon and Chad, to the south by the Gulf of Guinea, and to the west by Benin. It has quite a storied history that includes the rise of the ancient Nok civilization in the Early Times (500-1500), the first contact with Westerners during the Middle Ages (1500-1800), the British Rule and the end of the slave trade (1800-1960), independence from the Brits (1960-1966), political instability and Civil War (1967-1970), and military dictatorships or juntas (1970-1999). In 1999, it finally returned to a democratic government, similar to the United States model, with a president as the head of state.

These days, two extremist groups in Nigeria are behind a lot of the violence and unrest that occur. The Islamic State West Africa and the Boko Haram often target crowded places, such as schools, hotels, restaurants, churches, concert venues, and areas where there are a lot of tourists. Thus, always be vigilant and cautious when out in public in Nigeria, and, if possible, just go vacation somewhere else.

An Ebola outbreak has also been identified recently, and Nigeria has already put in place additional checkpoints at the different international airports around the country.