As the summer holiday season approaches, millions of British tourists are expected to travel abroad, with Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Portugal among the top destinations. However, travel experts have cautioned that some of the most familiar hotspots may pose significant risks, including crime, natural disasters and political instability.
Diana from Just Wanderlust warned that cities like Paris and Barcelona, despite their popularity, have rampant pickpocketing and scamming. She noted that tourists, often distracted by sightseeing, are easy targets for organised groups. Patrick Farrell of Viceroy Bali added that Cancun and Acapulco in Mexico, while appearing safe, have seen safety concerns outside resort areas, and recommended checking government travel advisories.
Ross Thompson at Covac Global highlighted geologic risks in places like Naples, Italy, near the active Mount Vesuvius, and Tokyo, Japan, which lies in a major seismic zone. He also pointed to political risks in Turkey following a failed coup in 2016, and warned of kidnapping in Mexican cities, as well as illness in Western Africa, Thailand and Brazil.
Bali, Indonesia, was singled out as a particular risk due to active volcanoes, potential political upheaval and diseases such as Dengue Fever, Malaria and Typhoid. Christian Petzold from BCN Travel noted that even tourist havens like Cancun have seen gang violence near tourist zones, while Paris and Rome suffer from petty theft and scams at major landmarks and transport hubs.
