Tourists taking pictures at KLCC. Malaysia is ranked #10 on the 2024 Global Peace Index. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
Solo travel is on the rise around the world. This is based on the increasing number of searches for single-person accommodations and activities on online booking platforms like Agoda, Traveloka and Airbnb.
According to research by Airbnb, there is a 90% increase in searches for solo travel ahead of the spring season in the northern hemisphere. This trend can also be seen in South-East Asia, where more people are choosing to go on self-discovery journeys, mostly prioritising wellness and leisure.
Of course, the biggest concern one would have when planning a solo trip is safety, and whether one would be able to travel around the place without much worry.
International insurance provider William Russell recently released a report ranking the “safest countries in the world”. The report revealed that Malaysia saw one of the biggest improvements in safety ranking.
The research comes from the company’s team of international health insurance experts, who analysed data from the 2024 Global Peace Index (produced by the Institute For Economics & Peace/IEP), and the World Risk Report 2024 (by the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict/IFHV).
These reports assess factors like crime rates, political stability, terrorism risks and even natural disaster resilience.
The ranking is based on key factors including personal security, public health, infrastructure, environmental safety and digital security.
Malaysia sits at #10 on the index, which is great considering there are 163 nations listed. What’s even better is that Malaysia showed a dramatic improvement of 8.6% in her index score; in 2023, Malaysia was ranked 19th.
Also on the “most improved” list, where Malaysia sits on #6, are Afghanistan (up by 15.4%), Syria (12.1%), Iran (11.8%), Greece (9.7%), Mauritania (9.2%), United Arab Emirates (8.2%), Tajikistan (7.9%), Libya (7.7%) and Uzbekistan (7.6%).
The list of top 20 safest countries, on the other hand, is dominated by those in Europe, with the Nordic countries Iceland, Ireland and Austria leading the way.
A geyser in Te Puia, Rotorua in New Zealand. The country is considered the safest in the world, based on the 2024 Global Peace Index.— Pixabay
Also on the list are (in descending order) New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia, and of course, Malaysia. Only two other Asian/Oceania countries are listed in the top 20: Japan (#17) and Australia (#19).
The United States is at #132, just behind Iran.
Some of the qualities that the world’s safest countries have in common include high levels of wealth, social welfare and education. Most also have an effective criminal justice system, and good governance.
Unfortunately, 127 countries have seen their peace score decline since 2023, most likely due to conflicts, political instability, economic challenges and environmental disasters.
Countries with the biggest decline in their peace score are Ecuador, Haiti, Israel, Palestine and Gabon.
So, if you’re planning for a “memoon” or a solo trip, you may want to consider checking the 2024 Global Peace Index or the World Risk Report before choosing your destination. You can also read the comprehensive William Russell report on their website.
