Below are possibly the most dangerous travelling destinations in Asia Pacific. To protect yourself, it will be always wiser to try purchase a reliable travel insurance package before you go!
Sri Lanka’s lengthy and bloody civil war was ended in May 2009, when the Sri Lankan army finally defeated the rebel group Tamil Tigers. However, there might be one or two land mines, and the facilities in northern (and some parts of the east) cities and towns are war torn. Sri Lanka Army is currently engaged in rapidly clearing landmines laid out by LTTE terrorists.
Bombings and assassinations were a firm part of the Tigers’ repertoire, and there is heavy security in all sensitive locations. While the separatists have never targeted tourists, none have ever been killed, though a few have been wounded by terrorist actions. In general, though, traffic accidents should be a greater concern than terrorism.
China
Generally speaking, crime rates are higher in the larger cities than in the countryside. The larger the cities, the more the crime rate. Nevertheless, they are no more dangerous than the likes of Sydney, London or New York in the Western world. Bicycle theft can be a problem, along with other form of petty crimes. In long journey buses, there has been handful reports that a group of robbers mugged all passengers on the bus, especially on the ones leaving from Shenzhen.
Intending visitors should be aware that there is no real rule of law in Cambodia. Crimes may or may not be investigated; if perpetrators are wealthy or connected to the government they will often be untouchable by police and courts. This, combined with the country’s high traffic accident rate, makes Cambodia a riskier travel destination than most. Cambodia suffers from a legacy of millions of land mines left during the war years. In remote areas such as Preah Vihear and Pailin, exercise caution: ask for local advice and heed warning signs, red paint and red rope, which may indicate mined areas. Do not venture beyond well established roads and paths.
Thailand
The number one cause of death for visitors to Thailand is motorbike accidents, especially on the often narrow, mountainous and twisty roads of Phuket and Samui. Drive defensively, wear a helmet, don’t drink and avoid travel at night. The country is deeply engulfed in human and drug trafficking. There is still significant risk of crime in cities like Bangkok. Every year tourists in the country go missing without a trace, even more shocking is that word of these disappearances seldom make headline news in the country. The police who aren’t always there to protect and serve are instructed to ‘shoot to kill”. What’s more, the AIDS cases are present at alarming rate.
Indonesia has been and continues to be wracked by every pestilence known to man: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, terrorism, civil strife, plane crashes, corruption and crime make the headlines on a depressingly regular basis. Elections in Indonesia frequently involve rowdy demonstrations that have on occasion spiralled into violence. While the great majority of civil strife in Indonesia is a strictly local affair, terrorist bombings targeting Western interests have also taken place in Bali and Jakarta.