Tourists are often wary of traveling to certain destinations that maintain a reputation of being “unsafe”. This can be because of high crime rates, political corruption or unhealthy amounts of pollution. We’ve compiled a list of the 11 worst travel destinations around the world based on these factors. Some destinations have the potential to be interesting tourist sites, but government officials must improve safety and wellness standards before travelers will feel comfortable visiting them.
1. Kiev, Ukraine
Kiev is the capital and also the largest city in Ukraine. However, recent riots have left this industrial metropolis in ruins. Over 4,000 rioters are dead and thousands more injured following a dangerous war that began with demonstrators arguing for Ukraine to join the European Union while government officials fought to maintain the country’s independence. Once a bustling tourist city, Kiev has seen a significant decline in travelers over the last year. Due to safety precautions traveling to Kiev at this time is not recommended.
2. Port au Prince, Haiti
Haiti has never been a thriving tourist destination, but ever since the 2010 earthquake that killed over 100,000 people, Port au Prince has been falling even further into decline. Basically a city of slums, Port au Prince lacks basic healthcare and education systems and is stricken with severe poverty. Violent crimes occur daily in the capital city as thousands of criminals who escaped from jail during the earthquake have not be captured. Locals are purposefully kept far from tourists, making the experience hardly authentic for travelers who visit there.
3. Damascus, Syria
Syria has been ensnared in a violent civil war since March 2011, with uprisings and protests taking place daily against President Assad’s regime. Then in August 2013, Assad’s troops used chemical weapons against Syrian citizens. The continuous violence has caused a temporary suspension of commercial flights and closure of roadways. The threat of terrorism and kidnapping is very high in Damascus and the surrounding suburbs. While its a historically and culturally rich city, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises that Damascus is one of the worst travel destinations in the world right now.
