Passport to danger: Deadliest tourist destinations

Massacres in Egypt, murder in upmarket Kenya and mayhem in Mexico have led Irish tourists to reassess their holiday plans. Paul Melia reports

It was supposed to be a safe place to holiday, where visitors went on day trips to world-famous tourist attractions including the Ancient Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx.

But in an instant everything changed. Flames lit up the Egyptian city of Cairo last Sunday after angry clashes between Christians, Muslims and the security forces left 25 dead and 200 injured.

They were the worst riots since the uprising last February which ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak and which were supposed to herald a safe and democratic society.

But the riots weren't isolated incidents of violence in a country reliant on the tourist dollar.

There's been kidnappings in Kenya and mayhem on the streets of Mexico -- is anywhere safe for the adventurous traveller?

The Irish are used to spreading their wings. Once it was to escape a downtrodden economy but in recent years they've travelled to different and exotic locations for their annual getaway.

Few wanted a walled-off resort in South Africa or a destination with a heavy police presence, and the Celtic Tiger meant money was no object. Honeymoons in the Seychelles, summers in Thailand and poolside margaritas in Mexico became de rigeur, with nowhere too unusual or out-of-the-way.

A staggering 10.8 million passenger journeys were made from Irish airports last year.

At the height of the boom, some 800,000 package holidays a year were being taken. It has since fallen to about 300,000.

"The main tour operators go to the major resorts in Europe and certainly the north African countries did very well, places like Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt, particularly for the winter sun," president of the Irish Tour Operators Federation, Philip Airey, told the Irish Independent.

"The Red Sea, a resort in Egypt, is popular. For the long haul there's the Caribbean, especially Cuba. India was quite fashionable a few years ago, especially the Golden Triangle, and there's still a lot of interest in Thailand and Malaysia."

But there's always the risk of something unfortunate happening.

Last August, two women from Northern Ireland -- Marion Graham and Kathy Dinsmore -- were killed by a deranged teenager in Turkey. Michaela Harte was murdered in Mauritius in January in a seemingly random killing.

And what should have been a dream holiday for British couple David and Judith Tubbutt at a Kenyan beach resort turned into a nightmare in a matter of moments.

The pair were holidaying in the Kiwayu Safari Village last September when an armed gang broke into their hut, shot David dead and kidnapped his distraught wife, taking her to Somalia.

Judith is still missing, but worse was to come. Two weeks later, a 66-year old disabled Frenchwoman, Marie Dedieu, was abducted. She is also believed to be held in Somalia.

But these are extreme cases. Most incidents abroad involve being the victim of a pickpocket or other petty criminal.

Irish embassies and consulates have dealt with 1,075 personal cases so far this year, with issues ranging from accidents to arrests, medical problems and crime.

In recent years officials have dealt with two high-profile kidnappings -- aid worker Sharon Commins in the Sudan and Fr Michael Sinnott in the Phillipines in 2009 -- while the Department of Foreign Affairs has also activated its Crisis Centre in response to civil unrest in Bangkok and terrorist bombings in Mumbai.

It publishes advice on its website where people intending to travel can learn out about visa requirements and the security situation in every country.

"We're always guided by the department and if they say don't fly, we don't fly," Philip Airey says.

"But you're always going to get unfortunate instances.

"Mauritius took quite a hit from a once-off situation in relation to Michaela's murder. Parts of Kenya near the Somalia border are dangerous, as is Mexico City in terms of crime. There's issues with people withdrawing money from banks, and criminal gangs dress up as policemen and demand money.

"But Cancun (in Mexico) is still popular with about €1,200 getting an all-inclusive deal.

"You've other places where a bomb goes off, and people ring the next day looking for a deal or special offer. They think lightning never strikes twice."

The paranoid traveller will always find something to be afraid of.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, there is a "low" risk of terrorism in Canada, but visitors should be aware of the "global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks".

Earthquakes could hit New Zealand, there has been a "slight rise" in non-violent crime in Denmark while pickpockets and petty criminals are common in Italy.

Most of the Caribbean is safe, but travel advice applies to many countries including offshore tax haven the Cayman Islands where visitors are reminded to be mindful of their surroundings.

"Extreme caution" is urged in Jamaica, particularly in the capital Kingston, and while most visits to Mexico are "trouble free", the department notes the "high level of violent crime".

Violent crime and taxi-muggings are prevalent in Nicaragua. Caution is urged in Morocco and "extreme caution" in Algeria.

But trouble can be easily avoided by taking simple precautions.

"People have to take responsibility for their own safety," Airey says.

"Every city has no-go areas, and a lot of personal security is cop-on like not withdrawing money late at night and not wearing a flashy watch."

Of course there are people who crave danger and want to holiday on the edge of civilization. For the right money, specialist travel agencies can arrange tours of war-ravaged and dangerous nations. One company, www.hinterlandtravel. com, offers trips to Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Burma.

According to its website, the mood in Iraq is "upbeat" and the security situation "improving all the time".

A basic nine-day tour costs about €2,000, plus flights and visas.

Now that's an adventurous holiday.

Source: Independent