The 10 countries Britons are most afraid of travelling to
More British holidaymakers are concerned about the safety of travel to Turkey than any other country in the world, new research for Telegraph Travel suggests.
Analysing Google searches for questions that begin with “is it safe to travel to...”, data analytics company SEMrush found that this year, Britons have searched most for the dangers of visiting our south-east European neighbours.
Turkey also features on the 10 most asked about list for American and Canadian travellers, though the North American nations shared a different most-searched result: Mexico.
Below, we list the 10 countries British tourists are most concerned about when it comes to choosing their travel destinations, and detail whether the nation is safe to visit or not.
Is it safe to travel to Turkey?
Foreign Office advice: Yes, with exceptions
The UK Foreign Office, the Government department in charge of issuing travel advisories, does not advise against travel to Turkey, apart from parts of the east of the country, and where it borders with Iraq and Syria, but the country’s reputation as a holiday destination has taken a blow in recent years following a period of severe unrest four years ago.
Tourists are now returning to Turkey’s beach resorts after a lull in terrorist activity and an improvement in political stability, but the search engine results suggest British visitors still have their misgivings.
Earlier this year, Thomas Cook reported that Turkey was one of the key drivers in holidaymakers turning their backs on the western Mediterranean in search of better value elsewhere. Value for money, its popular Turquoise Coast and a rich culture are some of the attractions luring Britons east.
The 10 countries Britons search for travel advice the most
Turkey
Egypt
Tunisia
Sri Lanka
Morocco
Mexico
Israel
India
Jordan
Cyprus
Is it safe to travel to Egypt?
Foreign Office advice: Yes, with exceptions
Egypt has had a similar experience, with periods of unrest and terrorism destabilising a once-blossoming tourism industry. Its renaissance has been somewhat chequered, too, with much of the country still out of bounds.
Most notably, the Red Sea Resort of Sharm el-Sheikh remains off-limits to visitors, unless you can make it there without flying. British holidaymakers have instead been flocking to the likes of Hurghada, where tour operators have reported a growth in popularity.
This week, British Airways announced a seven-day suspension of flights to the capital, Cairo, which raised eyebrows and led to concerns that the security situation in the country is not yet completely stable.
Is it safe to travel to Tunisia?
Foreign Office advice: Yes, with exceptions
The FCO advised against travel to the north African country in the wake of a terrorist attack in 2015 on the popular coastal resort of Sousse that left 38 dead, including 30 Britons, but the restrictions were lifted in 2018.
The travel ban hurt badly the country’s tourism industry, with British arrivals falling from 427,000 in 2014 to less than 50,000 in 2016. But now we are returning.
Tunisia is another country attracting Britons looking for value. The government has worked hard on improving security at the beach resorts on the north and east coast, having come under fierce criticism for its handling of the Sousse attacks.
The FCO warns against travel to some of the west of Tunisia, where the country borders Algeria, and to the south, bordering Libya.
Is it safe to travel to Sri Lanka?
Foreign Office advice: Yes
Sri Lanka’s position in the top 10 most searched is a result of this year’s Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 250 people. The blasts at three churches and four hotels wounded hundreds and was one of the worst incidents on the island since the end of the civil war 10 years ago.
In response, the Foreign Office announced a travel ban to Sri Lanka, warning that more attacks were likely. The restrictions lasted just under two months and in June the FCO said it was safe to return.
The news was greeted with relief and joy from the country’s cheerleaders, with tourism an important part of the economy. Since, the Sri Lankan has cut some airline duties to encourage carriers to slash the cost of airfares, while tour operators have offered various deals to woo back tourists.
Is it safe to travel to Morocco?
Foreign Office advice: Yes
The FCO says almost 700,000 Britons visit this north African country every year and that most are trouble free. Morocco has seen a rise in popularity in recent years, with holidaymakers drawn to the weather, value and a rich culture just three hours’ flight away.
In March the Foreign Office updated its guidance to say that Islamic terrorists were likely to carry out attacks, citing as evidence the murders of two female Scandinavian students near Mount Toubkal in December. One of the suspects was found to have links to “an extremist group”.
Paula Hardy, Telegraph Travel’s Morocco expert, said at the time that the country is no more dangerous than London or Paris. “Morocco relies on its tourist industry and tourists are generally well protected,” she said. “There are police checks on all the roads in and out of major cities [and] an official tourist brigade in all main tourist cities, which take complaints very seriously ('faux' guides can be fined or face jail time), and in most hotels/B&Bs there is security or night watchmen.”
Is it safe to travel to Mexico?
Foreign Office advice: Yes
Mexico was the number one travel safety search for both Americans and Canadians, but in sixth place for Britons. The FCO says the country is safe, but to see their advice before travel.
Among the issues mentioned are hurricane season, which runs from June to November, health (such as the Zika virus), and drug-related violence. The FCO says that though major tourist destinations like Cancun and Los Cabos have not seen as much crime as elsewhere in Mexico, there have been reports of shootings and violence.
Street crime and more serious violent crime like robbery, assault and vehicle hijacking are also mentioned, but the Foreign Office says more than 500,000 British nationals visit Mexico each year and most are trouble free.
Is it safe to travel to Israel?
Foreign Office advice:Yes, with exceptions
Another search popular in the US and Canada, too, probably likely due to the historic and ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestine. While Tel Aviv is an increasingly popular destination for beach and city breaks, the FCO advises against all travel to the Gaza strip, Golan Heights and the border with Syria and Lebanon.
“The security situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories can be fast moving, tense and unpredictable,” the FCO says. “You should be vigilant at all times and keep up to date with local media and travel reports.”
Is it safe to travel to India?
Foreign Office advice: Yes
It is impossible to have a single stance on the safety of travel to a country as vast as India; into India the United Kingdom fits 13 and a half times.
Our expert Gill Charlton describes the sub-continent as “the most engaging, colourful, chaotic, spiritual and life-affirming country in the world. It is an assault on the senses – all of them, nearly all of the time.”
She goes on to explain that India is “not a place for the faint-hearted… There is much that is shocking: the poverty, the noise and dirt, the overladen vehicles playing dodgems on the road.”
But from a safety point of view, these traits do not manifest themselves in a serious way. The FCO says there are nearly a million British visitors to India a year, and that most are without trouble.
There are, however, parts considered unsafe, including the border with Pakistan and Kashmir, among others.
Is it safe to travel to Jordan?
Foreign Office advice: Yes
The FCO advises against all but essential travel to within 3km of Jordan’s border with Syria, but otherwise says the country is safe.
The country has often been seen as the safest country in the Middle East, though it has seen its share of terrorism, with a number of incidents since 2016. Jordan’s tourism industry has also been somewhat unsettled by violence and conflict in neighbouring Syria and Iraq, with reports in 2015 and 2016 making it clear that travellers were staying away from popular sites such as Petra.
Last year EasyJet launched a direct route from Gatwick to Aqaba, bringing into proximity the low desert of Wadi Rum as well as the rock-hewn city of Petra. Wizz Air, also flies to the port city of Eilat. It seems confidence in Jordan as a holiday destination is growing.
Is it safe to travel to Cyprus?
Foreign Office advice: Yes
This search, in at 10, is not repeated in Canada and America, and likely the result of the island’s proximity to the likes of Lebanon and Syria.
There may also be concerns relating to the divide between the Republic of Cyprus and the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, which is not recognised by the British Government. A United Nations Buffer Zone separates the two.
The FCO says a million travellers visit the island each year and that most visits are trouble free, adding that holidaymakers should be wary of being encouraged to submit false claims of gastric illness while there.
Where are Americans concerned about?
Mexico
Egypt
Dominican Republic
Israel
Turkey
Cuba
Costa Rica
Colombia
Morocco
Jamaica
Where are Canadians concerned about?
Mexico
Egypt
Jamaica
Turkey
Cuba
Israel
China
Morocco
Colombia
Dominican Republic
Do you think travellers are right to worry about their safety in the above counties? Tell us of your experiences in comments below.
