UK score slips in safety pillar of WEF's travel and tourism index amid terror attacks

The UK has been hit a by a string of terror attacks since the start of 2017. (Reuters)

DUBAI: The UK’s score in the safety and security pillar of World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index slipped a few notches for 2017 just as the country was hit by a string of terror attacks.
The WEF describes the safety and security pillar as the “extent to which a country exposes tourists and businesses to security risks mainly related to serious harm to people such as violence and terrorism”, although petty crimes are not taken into account.
The UK scored 5.34 in terms of safety and security in the latest biennial report, as against 5.44 in 2015. The country however maintained its 5th overall ranking in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index with a score of 5.20 compared with 5.12 two years ago.
WEF’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index is constructed from 14 pillars – including safety and security, business environment, international openness, environmental sustainability, cultural resources and ICT readiness – which are calculated based on data derived from surveys and quantitative information.
Meanwhile, three Gulf states made it to top 10 of the world’s best tourist-friendly countries are: Finland (6.65); the United Arab Emirates (6.60); Iceland (6.57); Oman (6.49); Hong Kong SAR (6.47); Singapore (6.45); Norway (6.41); Switzerland (6.41); Rwanda (6.39) and Qatar (6.33).
Kuwait maintained its 43rd ranking (5.7); Bahrain improved to 47th (5.7) while Saudi Arabia slipped a few notches to 61st (5.5) in the safety and security segment of WEF’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index.
The world’s most dangerous countries to visit, according to WEF: Ukraine (3.5); Honduras (3.5); Kenya (3.4); Egypt (3.3); Venezuela (3.3); Nigeria (3.1); Pakistan (3.1); El Salvador (3.0); Yemen( 2.8) and Colombia (2.6) being the worst place to visit.
Countries considered as no-go destinations for tourists, such as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, have been excluded in the list.