DANGEROUS DESTINATIONS

The beach at Khao Lak, in Thailand, just before the Tsunami struck in 2004. Photo taken by Chris Jefferies on 5th December 2004, looking north from the beach outside the 'Khao Lak Resort' hotel.

On 28 March 2012, we read that, according to British travel firm Hayes and Jarvis, certain long haul travel bookings are showing unexpected growth‎

1. Bookings to Kenya and Egypt are down.

This is presumably because of CIA terror activity.

Egypt sales are down 47 per cent since 2010.

2. Bookings to Sri Lanka are down.

The UK media has been criticising Sri lanka for human rights abuses.

Visas are now required for Sri lanka.

Sales of Sri Lankan packages have fallen by 43 per cent compared with a year ago.

3. South Africa and Tanzania have seen much reduced booking levels.

Mexico can be dangerous. 47,515 people were killed in narcotics-related violence in Mexico between December 1, 2006 and September 30, 2011, with 12,903 narcotics-related homicides in the first nine months of 2011 alone. The number of U.S. citizens reported to the Department of State as murdered in Mexico increased from 35 in 2007 to 120 in 2011.

4. Bookings to Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Barbados and St Lucia are up.

UK tourists are presumably unaware of the large number of murders by drugs gangs in Mexico and much of the Caribbean; and the high prices in much of the West Indies.

However, prices for St Lucia and Barbados have been slashed by over 40 per cent.

2012 bookings in the Caribbean are up 37 per cent overall.

800 per cent up for the Dominican Republic.

66 per cent up for Cuba.

55 per cent up for St Lucia.

143 per cent up for Mexico.

British Airways launched direct flights to Cancun in autumn 2010.

5. Mauritius has seen bookings rise 24 per cent.

Mauritius has a high murder rate.

The Caribbean can be dangerous.

6. Hayes & Jarvis Top Ten Destinations 2012 to date

- Mexico
- St Lucia
- Las Vegas
- Dubai
- Dominican Republic
- Barbados
- Mauritius
- Cuba
- Penang
- Khao Lak

In the Caribbean, murder rates, including gang-related killings, have 'increased substantially' in the last 12 years. Murder rates are exceedingly high by world standards - 27 per cent (UN – 'Gangland Threat': CARICOM People 'Feel Unsafe' with Rising ...)

Safety and Security in St Lucia (St Lucia travel advice)

There was an increase in incidents of violent crime, including murder, in 2010. These can affect tourists. Muggings and thefts from hotels, yachts or holiday homes do occur, and are occasionally accompanied by violence, and there have been a number of serious assaults involving tourists and residents in recent years. There have been armed robberies at waterfalls in the Anse La Raye area in the past and these sites should be avoided. Ensure that your living accommodation is secure. Avoid walking alone in isolated areas, including beaches, after dark, and only camp out in large groups. Be extremely cautious about accepting lifts and use only licensed taxis...