he foreign and travelers.
commonwealth office draws
The foreign office’s travel
up an extensive list of advice is not to travel to the
countries that should not be following countries, even if it
travelled to quite regularly, and means losing business – the risk
is from that, that our, and other from the warzones listed below is
global travel insurance just too great to make the reward
providers’, underwriters decide worth the danger:
which countries travel insurance
Here’s our top 10 countries to
should be provided for. We look avoid traveling to, and the
at the government travel advice reasons for the high risk factor!
and decide from that whether or The risk is far from conclusive
not we can provide insurance to (the foreign office’s travel
travelers. advice lists many more
Although global travel insurance countries), but to me, these are
does, by its nature, cover the the ones that all travelers
majority of the world, the should avoid like the plague:
current climate ensures that
10) Liberia
there are some places where the
Economic hardship in Liberia
likelihood of incident means that is currently making outbreaks of
UK travel insurance providers are violence common, and foreigners
unable to offer protection. (especially westerners) are at
Thankfully, the list is clear of risk targets due to their
the majority of popular holiday affluence. This extra likelihood
destinations, and you’re unlikely of incident ensures that no UK
to have your big holiday plans travel insurance provider would
affected. The most likely group risk offering you cover if you
to have their travel plans choose to visit Liberia
altered by the foreign office’s
9) Nepal
travel advice are business
Occasional acts of terrorism
and political violence in urban westerners are advised to steer
areas make Nepal off-limits for clear of Yemen. If this is not
those who want to get travel possible, then all travelers are
insurance. In September this encouraged to stay vigilant and
year, three nearly simultaneous to keep a low profile to avoid
bombs went off in the capital of attacks or kidnapping. The
Kathmandu, killing 3 and injuring situation is so grave that the US
many innocent bystanders. Embassy often restricts American
8) Haiti
citizens from certain hotels,
Haiti is considered off limits restaurants and shopping
to many travelers on account of areas.
the high risk of kidnappings and
6) Israel
civil unrest that is prominent.
The Gaza Strip and West Bank
At the time of writing, there has seen immense violence in
have been 12 kidnappings of recent months between Israeli and
American travelers in 2007 – Palestinian factions, and
mostly criminal in nature. In the shootings, kidnappings and
past, these kidnappings have violence demonstrations have
ended in physical and sexual occurred in each. The region’s
assaults and shootings. The continued instability makes
potential for spontaneous travel to Israel widely
protests and demonstrations has recommended against – the risk of
also been known to result in abduction or worse makes travel
unexpected violence, day or insurance impossible to
night. It’s no surprise that the obtain.
government’s travel advice is not
5) Democratic Republic of
to travel here!
Congo
7) Yemen
The democratic republic of
Due to the high levels of Congo remains one of the most
terrorist activity in Yemen, dangerous places to travel in
Africa, where violence, neglect international headlines. Although
and corruption has left the the dusk-til-dawn curfew imposed
country distinctly damaged. in some of the towns has been
Fighting erupted in the streets lifted, it still remains an
of Kinshasa in March this year, uncertain time to visit the
and the situation remains country and you’re unlikely to
volatile despite the immediate find any global travel insurance
threat of violence calming down. company who will insure you.
Travel outside of Kinshasa is
3) Colombia
difficult and dangerous with
Colombia remains one of the
security, especially in the north most dangerous places to travel
and easy, being unstable. Any in the world thanks to the crime
traveler brave enough to travel the country suffers from. The
to the Congo should be extremely illicit drug trade in urban areas
cautious, avoid the North Kivu such as Cali and Buenaventura
district which is the backdrop to means that there is often a high
armed conflict between government risk of violence, while the more
troops and army rebels, avoid rural areas expose visitors to
crowds and keep a close eye on the country at risk from
local media.
narcoterrorist groups who will
4) Burma (Myanmar)
often kidnap civilians to use for
While the human rights ransom or to gain media
situation makes Myanmar an attention. Naturally UK travel
ethically uneasy place to visit, insurance companies are loathe to
currently there is a lot of insure travelers who choose to
personal risk involved as well. ignore these warning and travel
Throughout September, the to Colombia anyway.
anti-government protests sparked
2) Afghanistan
a violent crackdown from the
With the war on terror in
authorities and made Afghanistan still fresh in the
mind, it’s no surprise that the checkpoints and police
country remains a big no-go area. stations.
Western tourists are obvious
While holidaymakers are
kidnap and assassination targets, unlikely to be affected by these
as many of the disbanded Taliban less touristy locations, their
and Al-Qa’ida forces remain at riskiness means that business
large and hostile to the new travellers will have to forgo
regieme. Additionally, the their travel insurance if they
country remains unsafe due to are unable to cancel their
tribal groups, explosive devices, trips.
landmines, military operations
and acts of terrorism.
Unsurprisingly, the government’s type="text/javascript">
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About the Author:
Patrick Chong is the managing director of Journey’s Travel, their commercial website, Insuremore, offers cheap UK travel insurance with free cover against acts of terrorism and a quick and easy online claims service.
