Top 10 riskiest and safest global cities for tourists in 2024—Where do Indian cities stand?

Top 10 Riskiest and Safest cities for Travellers: In a globalised world where news of safety concerns spreads rapidly, cities that invest in security and safety measures along with strict law enforcement are more likely to attract visitors and boost their tourism sector.

Top 10 riskiest and safest global cities for tourists in 2024 (source Canva)

World’s Riskiest and Safest Cities to Travel 2024: In today’s increasingly interconnected world, urban safety has emerged as a critical concern for travellers. Security has become a top priority for tourists when selecting their destinations, reflecting a significant shift in traveller behaviour.

As safety considerations take centre stage in decision-making, travellers are more inclined to choose locations that offer robust security measures and a low risk of crime, health issues, and other potential threats.

Notably, Singapore, Tokyo, and Toronto, renowned for their safety and security, continue to lead the pack as the safest cities globally. This is because of their low crime rates, robust infrastructure, and effective disaster preparedness.

Story continues below this ad

Additionally, European cities like Amsterdam, Zurich, and Copenhagen are also prominent among the safest, demonstrating the strong correlation between economic development, social welfare, and public safety.

Ranked | Top 10 peaceful countries in the world

On the flip side, while the cities in Venezuela, Pakistan, and Myanmar still dominate the top spots for danger, Indian metropolises like Delhi and Mumbai have seen a concerning increase in crime rates, infrastructure challenges, and health risks.

Hence, in a globalised world where news of safety concerns spreads rapidly, cities must work diligently to create a safe environment for both residents and tourists.

In its comprehensive analysis, Forbes Advisor has identified the safest and most dangerous cities for tourists in 2024, ranking 60 global destinations based on seven critical factors (travel safety, crime risk, personal security risk, health security risk, natural disaster risk, and digital security risk).

Story continues below this ad

It highlights the multifaceted nature of travel safety and provides a nuanced understanding of the risks associated with different cities around the world. Discover below.

The top 10 riskiest global cities for tourists in 2024:

World Report 2024: Venezuela | Human Rights Watch

Caracas, Venezuela, ranks as the riskiest city for tourists, scoring a perfect 100. It has the highest health and crime risks, the worst travel safety rating (Level 4: Do Not Travel), and significant infrastructure and digital security threats. (Credit: Jesus Vargas/dpa)

Here are the top 10 riskiest cities for tourists in 2024, as ranked by the Forbes Advisor:

Rank	City and Country	Total Score	Crime	Personal Security	Health Security	Infrastructure Security	Digital Security
1	Caracas, Venezuela	100	1	4	1	2	2
2	Karachi, Pakistan	93.12	19	1	6	4	4
3	Yangon, Myanmar	91.67	32	3	3	3	1
4	Lagos, Nigeria	91.54	5	2	2	1	11
5	Manila, Philippines	91.49	9	5	7	9	12
6	Dhaka, Bangladesh	89.5	12	7	9	6	5
7	Bogota, Colombia	86.7	7	15	16	12	15
8	Cairo, Egypt	83.44	29	10	4	5	6
9	Mexico City, Mexico	82.43	6	19	11	18	23
10	Quito, Ecuador	82.02	11	15	14	15	9

Source: Forbes Advisor (2024)

*Please note: The total score is out of 100, and the cities are ranked in ascending order based on their safety scores.*

Story continues below this ad

The top 10 safest global cities for tourists in 2024:

Singapore ranks as the safest city for tourists, scoring 0 out of 100. It boasts the best travel safety rating (Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions), the lowest natural disaster risk, and the second lowest health, infrastructure, and digital security risks. (Source: AP)

Here are the top 10 safest cities for tourists in 2024, as ranked by the Forbes Advisor:

Rank	City and Country	Total Score	Crime	Personal Security	Health Security	Infrastructure Security	Digital Security
60	Singapore, Singapore	0	55	48	59	59	59
59	Tokyo, Japan	10.72	54	45	60	41	56
58	Toronto, Canada	13.6	38	53	54	47	57
57	Sydney, Australia	22.28	41	50	51	60	51
56	Zurich, Switzerland	22.97	56	46	27	46	48
55	Copenhagen, Denmark	23.65	52	60	35	58	58
54	Seoul, South Korea	25	53	39	55	30	41
53	Osaka, Japan	25.22	43	44	56	34	54
52	Melbourne, Australia	26.17	37	43	57	53	45
51	Amsterdam, Netherlands	29.07	48	59	38	54	42

Source: Forbes Advisor (2024)

*Please note: The total score is out of 100, and the cities are ranked in descending order based on their safety scores.*

Read | Top 10 wealthiest cities in the world in 2024

Where do Indian cities rank on the list?

Unfortunately, New Delhi (rank 12) and Mumbai (rank 14) are ranked as the two riskiest Indian cities for tourists in 2024. This highlights significant concerns regarding safety and security in these metropolitan areas.

Story continues below this ad

The total scores of 77.68 and 77.36, respectively, indicate that the cities face significant challenges related to crime and safety challenges that may deter potential tourists and affect the overall perception of the country as a travel destination.

Rank	City and Country	Total Score	Crime	Personal Security	Health Security	Infrastructure Security	Digital Security
12	New Delhi, India	77.68	17	20	21	17	13
14	Mumbai, India	77.36	36	11	17	13	8

Source: Forbes Advisor (2024)

Cherry Gupta

Cherry Gupta is an Assistant Manager – Content at The Indian Express. She leads the Top 10 section, curating list-based features on key national and international developments, and manages daily news content. She also produces SEO-driven articles and collaborates with the Lifestyle team to conduct interviews with notable artists and write workplace culture features. ... Read More