[chickenado]

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact travel and likely will for the foreseeable future with vaccines and testing aiding the long-awaited transition to a new normal. However, travel is still possible and very much safe when you adhere to local restrictions and requirements and follow guidance from health experts, much of which has become common sense at this point—wear a face mask when in public, practice social distancing and wash or sanitize your hands frequently.

[DGCmagazine]

For Americans, domestic travel continues to be one of the least complicated and safest ways to experience new destinations. While you'll want to work with a travel advisor and thoroughly research your destination to stay up to date on the latest COVID-19 numbers as well as be aware of any local travel restrictions and requirements, there are some destinations that stand out in terms of offering a safe experience with minimal resistance. more

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Heeding these warnings tourists are starting to consider new destinations this summer, said Frank Brehany, Consumer Director of HolidayTravelWatch. He told MailOnline Travel: 'Holidaymakers appear to be shunning the Eastern Mediterranean region, in preference of resorts that were once popular. The drivers for consumers will be the fear of terror striking at the heart of their holiday. [links]

[ruenma7411]

But for anyone still hoping to take a break in Europe and beyond there are still some destinations globally with a low terrorism risk.

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The FCO warn travellers that: 'There is considered to be a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria.' more

[h4ck3rk1ng]

Countries with a low threat from terrorism according to latest Foreign Office advice

[ZeroPoint]

As the threat from terrorism takes grip of Europe, with popular destinations such as Spain and France issued with high risk warnings by the Foreign Office, holidaymakers are starting to worry about their summer getaways.

[Peterv]

From Norway to the Netherlands, the British Foreign Office has rated much of Europe as having a general threat from terrorism on its website, advising holidaymakers 'to be vigilant as attacks could be indiscriminate' including in hotspots visited by foreigners. [links]

[Myst]

If you’ve even thought about traveling again, you’ve inevitably asked yourself — and Google — some questions in advance of booking. What is the current rate of infection at my destination? What’s open? What hoops do I need to jump through to get there? How many other people will be there? The pandemic has shifted our entire perception of our personal safety relative to travel, and also brought into focus what, exactly, we’re hoping to get out of it.

[jesmurf]

Population density: 74.25 people per square mile (23rd)
Annual tourists: In 2019, the state of Washington saw a 2 percent increase in visitor volume over the year prior, for a total of 110 million visitors. In 2020, tourism dropped off so drastically that in the first three months of the fiscal year, visitor spending had declined by $3.8 billion.
Acreage of State and National Parks per Capita: 212 state parks and 3 national parks for a total of 1,775,812 total acres, making it 3.93% covered in park land (9th)
Vaccine rate: 38.37% of population (18th)
Current infection rate: 16 cases per 100,000 people
Reasons to go/things to do: While Mount Rainier, and by default Mount Rainier National Park, is a must-see in the Pacific NorthWest, it’s not the only noteworthy park in the state of Washington. In fact, North Cascades National Park boasts some of the most pristine land in the entire country. The true gem of North Cascades, Diablo Lake, appears turquoise in hue as a result of tiny ice-eroded rock particles that flow into the lake but on the southern edge of the park, you also have Lake Chelan in the Discover Lake Chelan National Recreation Area — one of the deepest lakes in the country. Both offer ample opportunity for kayaking, paddle boarding and boating. here

[esspe]

That said, things are going to be decidedly … different. The way we travel has irrefutably changed — arguably on a permanent basis.

[DrWatson]

Population density: 67.63 people per square mile (21st)
Annual tourists: In 2019, tourism brought the state of Utah $10 billion in revenue for the first time ever. Interestingly enough, while visitation was down overall, the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation saw an increase of over 2.6 million in state park visitation from 2019 to 2020.
Acreage of State and National Parks per Capita: 44 state parks and 5 national parks for a total of 979,259 total acres, making it 1.8% covered in park land (14th)
Vaccine rate: 28.59% of population (48th)
Current infection rate: 10 cases per 100,000 people
Reasons to go/things to do: In the race to vaccinate the country, Utah is in 48th place (of 51, to be fair) making its inclusion on this list seem a bit questionable. That said, they’re still only averaging 10 cases per 100,000 people, and a trip with the intent to explore one of the national parks still feels feasible. Less than a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, Zion, in all of its redrocked, waterfalled glory, is the obvious choice. There are a handful of drives, including the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, that pass by most of the major sites while simultaneously providing some of the most spectacular views, making them a worthy expenditure of time. Also, albeit 3.5 hours away from Salt Lake City International and thus a bit of a trek, Arches National Park — host to more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches — is deserving of a visit.

[benyclawn]

7. Italy
Safest Places score: 2.82
Global Peace Index Rank: 38
State Department Travel Advisory Level: 2 here

[Iron47]

2. Australia
Safest Places score: 3.05
Global Peace Index Rank: 12
State Department Travel Advisory Level: 1 more

[octopus]

4. Switzerland
Safest Places score: 2.87
Global Peace Index Rank: 9
State Department Travel Advisory Level: 1 more

[luna0417]

3. Iceland
Safest Places score: 2.93
Global Peace Index Rank: 1
State Department Travel Advisory Level: 1 more

[sleasalo]

8. Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)
Safest Places score: 2.72
Global Peace Index Rank: Netherlands 19, Belgium 19
State Department Travel Advisory Level: 1 (for Luxembourg); 2 (for the Netherlands and Belgium) here