The World Economic Forum releases a report every two years that ranks different countries based on various categories. This year, the Forum evaluated 136 countries to determine their safety for tourists. Key factors in this ranking included the level of danger faced by tourists and the impact of violence and terrorism on business.
Finland was recognized as the safest country in the world for tourists, with the United Arab Emirates and Iceland following in second and third place, respectively.
What might be surprising is how the United Kingdom and the United States were ranked. The United Kingdom was placed at 78th, while the United States came in at 84th, below Zimbabwe, which ranked 60th. The bottom of the list included Colombia, with Yemen, El Salvador, Pakistan, and Nigeria being only slightly safer.
In another ranking by the Forum, Spain was named the most tourist-friendly country, praised for its cultural and natural attractions as well as its developed tourism infrastructure. France took the second spot despite experiencing recent terrorist attacks. Important criteria for this ranking included hygiene, safety, security, and information technology, and an average score was calculated for each country.
The lists of the most welcoming and safest countries vary significantly. What has your experience been? Do you agree with the rankings? Share your thoughts in the comments!