The 20 most dangerous places on Earth

[aboriginalhostel]

The Telegraph just posted this article showing the twenty most dangerous places to visit...

It is including some very popular backpackers destinations like Thailand, Mexico and India... and most of Africa.

Do you think Europe can become popular again for backpackers due these destinations are rather unsafe nowadays?

[santa klaus]

Originally Posted by aboriginalhostel

Do you think Europe can become popular again for backpackers due these destinations are rather unsafe nowadays?

I don´t thnk so. The places they mention have never been popular tourist destinations, apart from Thailand and India - and I would travel to both countries without hesitation. The biggest threat there is food.

[aboriginalhostel]

Well, most of the countries the Telegraph mentions are not very popular destinations indeed. Most of us wouldn't go to the 'stans or the mentioned countries of Africa.

Thailand is a very popular destination though (2,5% of GDP is provided by tourism) and it is just before a civil war.
Even if the coastal, holiday destinations are far from the capital, you have to get there or leave the country somehow. Even now, thousands of tourists are trapped in the capital because the opposition has blockaded the major airport, if there will be a war, it would be hard to even get there.

Mexican violations can retreat US tourists from their cheap holidays. Most of these attacks are in Mexico City and North Mexico. Cancun and the Yucatan peninsula won't be involved IMHO, but Mexico was always a cheap alternative against Europe for Americans.

The only thing Europe can not compete is the cheapness, but Europe is still the most secure destination overall...

If the oil stays cheap, intercontinental flights can be affordable... if the economy ballasts soon, we gonna have a good 2009...[/imho]