Bangkok Ranked 30th in Global Tourist Risk Index by Forbes Advisor

[webfact]

Bangkok. File photo courtesy: Wikimedia

 

Bangkok has been spotlighted as the 30th most risky city for tourists in a recent assessment by Forbes Advisor, a renowned platform guiding consumer choices in various sectors including travel.

 

The evaluation, detailed in the article “12 Best Travel Insurance Companies of July 2024”, analysed 60 major cities worldwide across seven crucial risk metrics: travel safety, crime, personal security, health security, infrastructure, natural disaster, and digital security.

 

Topping the list of risky destinations was Caracas, Venezuela, scoring a perfect 100. Following closely were Karachi at 93.12, Yangon at 91.67, Lagos in Nigeria at 91.54, and Manila at 91.49. These cities faced high risks primarily in crime, personal security, and health security.

 

Bangkok’s cumulative risk score stood at 53.34, driven significantly by crime and health security concerns, scoring 39 each in these categories. The city fared better in other aspects: infrastructure scored 22, digital security 17, and personal security a notable low at 5.

 

Conversely, the study found Singapore to be the safest city for tourists, with a negligible risk score of zero. Tokyo followed with a score of 10.72, then Toronto with 13.6, Sydney at 22.28, and Zurich at 22.97.

 

Within Southeast Asia, Bangkok was deemed relatively safe, securing the second spot after Singapore. Other regional cities trailed behind, with Kuala Lumpur scoring 55.36, Ho Chi Minh City at 61.83, and Jakarta at 81.98.

 

The study underscores the complexities and variances in city safety, providing travellers with critical insights to make informed decisions. As travel trends shift post-pandemic, awareness of such risks is crucial for planning safe and enjoyable trips.

 

Forbes Advisor

 

-- 2024-07-25

 

- Cigna offers a range of plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[webfact]

Bangkok in top 30 most dangerous cities for tourists
by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Photo courtesy of The Nation

Bangkok has been named the 30th most dangerous city for tourists, according to a recent Forbes Advisor article. The article, 12 Best Travel Insurance Companies of July 2024, compared 60 international cities across seven key risk metrics.

 

The cities were evaluated on travel safety, crime risk, personal security risk, health security risk, infrastructure security risk, natural disaster risk, and digital security risk. Topping the list as the riskiest city was Caracas, Venezuela, with a perfect risk score of 100 out of 100. Karachi followed closely with a score of 93.12, and Yangon ranked third with 91.67. Lagos in Nigeria and Manila also made the top five, scoring 91.54 and 91.49 respectively.

Bangkok received a risk score of 53.34, placing it 30th overall. The Thai capital’s highest risk scores were in the crime and health security categories, both at 39. Infrastructure risk scored 22, digital security risk 17, and personal security risk was relatively low at 5.

 

On the flip side, Singapore was named the safest city for tourists, boasting a risk score of zero. Tokyo, Toronto, Sydney, and Zurich rounded out the top five safest cities, with scores of 10.72, 13.6, 22.28, and 22.97, respectively.

When compared to other Southeast Asian cities, Bangkok emerged as the second safest after Singapore. Kuala Lumpur followed in third place with a score of 55.36, Ho Chi Minh City came next with 61.83, and Jakarta trailed with a high-risk score of 81.98, reported The Nation.

 

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-25

 

- Cigna offers a range of plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

Bangkok has been spotlighted as the 30th most risky city for tourists

It's all the dodgy foreigners arriving here now, making Thailand cities very dangerous. 

 

The worst thing about Thailand is some of the foreigners.

 

 

[Jonathan Swift]

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's all the dodgy foreigners arriving here now, making Thailand cities very dangerous. 

 

The worst thing about Thailand is some of the foreigners.

 

 

I agree, the only real ɑsshοIes I've ever run into here have been foreigners. Most of the criminals are Russians. Maybe this article will slow down the influx. But placing 30th isn't that bad, although I think the US isn't safe either, but mostly for Americans. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2535740/russians-top-list-of-crimes-by-foreigners

[NemoH]

Floodgates once opened is difficult to monitor and close.

With China economy collapsing... and Russia at war, we will expect more criminals than regular tourists. The Chinese are all running out of China as we speak.. and this include a majority of nefarious characters who are now seeking to profit from crime in other countries with lax laws. I really fear for Thailand...

[TJS1]

30th out of 60 cities is exactly average risk, non story

[ikke1959]

A new hub???

[bob smith]

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

 

The worst thing about Thailand is some of the foreigners.

....do you include yourself in that rather profound statement?

 

bob.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's all the dodgy foreigners arriving here now, making Thailand cities very dangerous. 

 

The worst thing about Thailand is some of the foreigners.

 

 

I would have thought Pattaya would top Bangkok, or even Phuket due to the taxi mafia.

[RT555]

Been coming to Thailand since 1980.. 

A lot has changed after 2010/2015.

Before 2000 you hardly seen any African males on Sukhumvit.. Maybe 1 or 2.

After 2008...the African female hookers were all over the place on Suk, soi 3 and 5....also the Arabs started coming in droves.. Used to work at a big hotel there. 

Used to work a big hotel in Pattaya as well before the chaos started. Used to actually like going there. 

 

 

 

[AhFarangJa]

5 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I would have thought Pattaya would top Bangkok, or even Phuket due to the taxi mafia.

I think it would if not for the fact there is no prostitution in Pattaya.......

[OneMoreFarang]

How about NYC, Chicago, and other American cities? 

[bristolgeoff]

Would love to know the survey and where it was started.BKK is safe except if u upset a thai or lady from the bar.Never had a problem no matter what time i was about

[BadSpottedDog]

What? I feel pretty darn safe when I travel there. I was thinking "what hogwash" this is, but if you read the fine print, they've factored in health concerns and that makes more sense considering the air quality there.

[Peterphuket]

4 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's all the dodgy foreigners arriving here now, making Thailand cities very dangerous. 

 

The worst thing about Thailand is some of the foreigners.

 

 

And how about yourself?

Or are you Thai.

[andygrr]

1 hour ago, TJS1 said:

30th out of 60 cities is exactly average risk, non story

Yep and second safest in the ASEAN area so what's the problem.

[Aussie999]

This will generate a lot of stories, from government departments  to contradict this ranking.

[Aussie999]

4 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's all the dodgy foreigners arriving here now, making Thailand cities very dangerous. 

 

The worst thing about Thailand is some of the foreigners.

 

 

OMG, didn't take long for a thai apologist to comment... do you really think there's enough tourist to bias the stats... SMH

[Aussie999]

12 minutes ago, andygrr said:

Yep and second safest in the ASEAN area so what's the problem.

Something wrong with your logic.

[Srikcir]

34 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I would have thought Pattaya would top Bangkok, or even Phuket due to the taxi mafia.

Looking at the metrics used in the ranking, missing is the population equalizer "per capita" - whether it be related to total general population or tourists (aka visitors). 

• Bangkok has a population of 11,234,000 vs 22.8 million visitors (2023) compared to Pattya 115,840 population vs planned 27 million visitors for 2024.

While Singapore ranked #1 with 0 risk score, if compared to other Southeast Asian cities, Bangkok ranked #2 as safest for tourists. 

Bangkok also ranked #1 of the world's most visited cities in 2023 vs Singpore ranked #5. 

So subject ranking appears dubious at best and irrational at worst.

 

[newnative]

    The headline could just as easily have stated:  Bangkok named the second safest city in Southeast Asia.   As a part-time Bangkok resident, I've never felt unsafe.  True also for Pattaya, where I live year-round.  

[newnative]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

I would have thought Pattaya would top Bangkok, or even Phuket due to the taxi mafia.

I doubt a possibly more expensive ride in a taxi tips the risk index much.

[Drumbuie]

2 hours ago, TJS1 said:

30th out of 60 cities is exactly average risk, non story

30th on a list of 60 means (ha!) that Bangkok is at the median point, but not necessarily average. 

[hotchilli]

26 minutes ago, newnative said:

I doubt a possibly more expensive ride in a taxi tips the risk index much.

Depends how tooled up the driver is.

[cnx101]

1 hour ago, AhFarangJa said:

I think it would if not for the fact there is no prostitution in Pattaya.......

And no ladyboys

[Polaky]

Safe haven for Russian's, so can't be too bad.

[Showtime]

Bangkok is not just risky because of the people.  Think of the infrastructure and how poor it is maintained, if at all.  Not to mention the building codes, or lack of them or the enforcement of them.  Ever see thousands wires coming out of a single electrical box on the street?  Then we can move on to riding moto taxis and in cars.  Soi dogs.  The list of dangers is endless.

[Jackbenimble]

3 hours ago, TJS1 said:

30th out of 60 cities is exactly average risk, non story

....and clearly a very selective 60 cities. I have lived here almost 20 years and feel a lot safer here than in my own country - which wasn't in the 60. Most people who have commented have accpted the headline as a fact instead of questioning it. In my experience Thailand is only dangerous if you go looking for trouble.  

[Jackbenimble]

1 hour ago, newnative said:

    The headline could just as easily have stated:  Bangkok named the second safest city in Southeast Asia.   As a part-time Bangkok resident, I've never felt unsafe.  True also for Pattaya, where I live year-round.  

Agree ttoally. It's a devisive headline designed to illicit a certain response. Thailand isn't dangerous, I feel safer here than in almost every city I've been to. Including in my own country. 

[black tabby12345]

Is BKK listed one of the worst dangerous towns in the world?

I have been in Thailand for nearly 20 years.

And sometimes visit the capital of this kingdom.

But have never felt that way.

If the tourist does something stupid, anywhere Can Be Dangerous.

As long as they exercise their common sense and sufficient security precaution  just like when they are back home, able to avoid many of the needless risks.

I love Thailand and that is my perception of the Bangkok.

Therefore, I conclude this sensation seeking article quite laughable.