Savvy travelers know that staying alert and using basic common sense is enough to keep you safe on most international vacations. Still, some countries offer greater protection to tourists than others.
The World Economic Forum has ranked the safety and security of 141 countries based on the reliability of their police services, the incidence of terrorism, their homicide rates, the business cost of crime and violence and the business cost of terrorism.
Finland topped the list as the safest country for travelers, followed by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The United States placed 73rd on the list.
SLIDESHOW: The 10 Safest Countries to Visit
Nigeria was the least safe place in the world for tourists, followed by Colombia and Yemen.
Two-thirds of U.S. leisure travelers said they planned a trip outside the country this year. That’s up from just 50 percent in 2014, according to a recent survey by TripAdvisor, with people spending an average of $8,700.
To learn more about potential crime or safety risks in countries you are thinking about visiting, check out the profiles on the U.S. State Department’s “country information” page. Then sign up for the department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Page, which will keep you posted of any new alerts or warnings, and help the U.S. embassy contact you if an emergency occurs while you’re abroad.
Finally, bring along copies your passport, as well as contact info for the U.S. embassy in the country that you’re visiting.
Click here to see the 10 safest countries to visit.
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