We'll give you a hint: think Alpine mountains, crystal-clear lakes, milk chocolate and one of the most efficient public transport systems in the world... and you should land on Switzerland; the safest country for travellers according to a new report.
It's not just natural beauty and clever infrastructure that Switzerland is noted for, the Alpine nation also performs well when it comes to safety. It was just named the safest destination for travellers according to the 2020 Ranking of the World's Safest Countries. In the report, compiled by travel insurance company Insurly, factors such as crime rates, road safety, violence, terrorism, natural disasters and the quality of healthcare were taken into account, alongside air quality, sanitation, and risks of exposure to epidemics.
Out of 180 countries, Switzerland bagged the highest score, with 90 points out of 100 in all the main categories.
Switzerland scored 98 on availability of transport, 92 on health, and between 90 and 91 in risks of violence and natural disasters. It was followed by Singapore in second place, which is widely considered a safe country for travellers where street crime and violence is relatively uncommon.
Overall, European nations scored well in the report with Norway (third), Luxembourg (fourth), Cyprus (fifth), Iceland (sixth), Denmark (seventh), Portugal (eighth) and Finland (ninth) all in the top 10. Japan rounded out the top 10, while the UK, Australia and the US came in 29th, 31st and 44th respectively.
On the opposite side of the list, the war-torn nations of South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic were declared among the most dangerous parts of the world to visit.
You can see the full list here.
