The U.S. is one of the most popular travel destinations around the world. Wherever the tourists go however they should always keep various safety precautions and find out which areas are better to avoid to stay safe. There are a number of cities in the U.S. with high crime rates. New Orleans tops the sad list of the most dangerous cities.
The violence in New Orleans became notorious especially in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Since then, the city has done a lot to get crime under control but it still remains the city with the highest homicide rate of 46.9 per 100,000 residents. Tourism stakeholders and government officials expressed their worries about the impact of the recent reports of violent attacks in the French quarter, which is a hugely popular tourist spot.
The second most dangerous city in the U.S. is Detroit, Michigan with a homicide rate of 45.0 per 100,000 residents over the past five years. The crime rate has been rising mostly due to the long history of economic troubles faced by the Motor City with the decline of the auto industry.
The third place is taken by St. Louis, Missouri with a homicide rate of 43.8 per 100,000 residents over the past five years. While St. Louis is noted for its Gateway Arch and amazing ribs it is also known for gang violence, multiple shootings, and racial unrest.
Baltimore, Maryland is the fourth most dangerous city with a homicide rate of 38.1 per 100,00 residents over the past five years. Charm City’s struggles with street violence, gangs and racial unrest have been well documented in fact and fiction such as the TV shows Homicide and The Wire.
The fifth place is taken by Oakland, California with a homicide rate of 23.9 per 100,000 residents over the past five years. Oakland has a vibrant cultural life with museums, restaurants, sports, shopping and nightlife. It also has economic disparity and a culture of guns and violence.
Traveling outside of the U.S. tourists should know where the most dangerous cities in the world are. It turns out that South America, a place with some of the world’s most unique and vital cities also has the world’s most dangerous cities.
This can be best understood in light of the illegal drug trade. A large percentage of the illegal drugs that are purchased in the United States are produced and trafficked through South America and Caribbean. This has resulted in a history of violent drug cartels and narco-states in the region.
The country of El Salvador is home to the world’s most dangerous city, San Salvador with a homicide rate of 139 per 100,000 residents over the past five years. El Salvador also has the city of Soyapango with a homicide rate of 90 per 100,000 residents and Santa Ana with a homicide rate of 58 per 100,000 residents. In spite of El Salvador’s #1 spot here it is country with natural beauty, gorgeous beaches, ranches, ancient ruins, and terrific hotels and restaurants.
The second place is taken by Mexico. Acapulco draws tourists in huge numbers to its ritzy resorts, pristine beaches, and smoking nightlife. It also has a homicide rate of 108 per 100,000 residents over the past five years. Victoria, Mexico has a homicide rate of 60 per 100,000 residents and Tijuana, Mexico has a homicide rate of 50 per 100,000 residents. Mexico has a multitude of historic sites, beaches, natural beauty and vibrant marketplaces to explore.
Honduras is in the third place. The city of San Pedro Sula has historic churches, an artist’s market, tropical gardens, a water park and famous Coca Cola sign. It also has a homicide rate of 105 people per 100,000 residents over the past five years. The city of Distrito Central has a homicide rate of 80 people per 100,000 residents and the city of Choloma has a homicide rate of 65 per 100,000 residents. In spite of these statistics Honduras has diving, national parks and Mayan ruins to explore.
The fourth place is taken by Brazil. The city of Maraba has tropical beaches, watersports, camping and natural beauty. It also has a homicide rate of 78 per 100,000 residents over the past five years. The city of Canaru has a homicide rate of 65 per 100,000 residents. In spite of such statistics Brazil is a country that has the Amazon, fabled beaches and nightlife, national parks and world heritage sites to explore.