In an increasingly dangerous world, many people are apprehensive about traveling to new destinations out of a concern for their safety. But the world’s top travel destinations are often safer than our own hometowns.
The Economist has just released its 2019 Safe Cities Index, which ranks 60 of the world’s top travel destinations across 57 indicators covering digital, health, infrastructure and personal security. Considering these four pillars of security, the report identified the following cities as the 10 safest for 2019:
- Tokyo, Japan
- Singapore
- Osaka, Japan
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Sydney, Australia
- Toronto, Canada
- Washington, D.C.
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Seoul, South Korea
- Melbourne, Australia
The overall score, which averages the performance of cities in each pillar, is useful. The report’s executive summary states that, “Despite having many elements, city safety is indivisible.” Although each element of security is distinct, requiring different solutions and interventions, the report’s authors found that “performance in each of the pillars correlates very closely with that in every other.”
When selecting a vacation destination, we certainly want to be free from crime. But, as I realized after a medical emergency in Singapore earlier this month, access to quality healthcare is important too.
A destination’s digital, health, infrastructure and personal security will each impact our travel experience in different and often unexpected ways. When comparing these rankings to my own experiences in cities around the world, they seem to align well with my past perceptions of safety and security.
You can access the full report here (PDF). How does your favorite travel destination stack up? Do any of the rankings surprise you? Let me know in the comments below!
