STEVENS POINT, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Travel insurance provider Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) has announced the findings of its ninth annual State of Travel Insurance Safest Destinations report, the longest-running and most trusted research project tracking U.S. travelers’ attitudes toward travel safety and travel insurance.
Travelers planning their getaways for 2024 should consider destinations like Canada, Switzerland and Norway as they took the top three spots on the list of safest countries. The report also featured the world’s safest cities which saw Honolulu, Montreal and Reykjavik leading the Top 15 Safest Cities.
To determine these rankings, BHTP analyzes a combination of the State of Travel Insurance survey responses compiled in September from travelers who have been to the destinations along with several third-party data sources. These additional sources evaluate safety concerns such as terrorism, weather emergencies, health measures and the safety of underrepresented groups.
Top 15 Safest Countries
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Norway
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- United Kingdom
- Portugal
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Japan
- France
- Spain
- Brazil
Top 15 Safest Cities
- Honolulu
- Montreal
- Reykjavik
- Sydney
- Amsterdam
- Dubai
- Copenhagen
- London
- Seoul
- Venice, Italy
- Tokyo
- Berlin
- Paris
- Barcelona
- Orlando
The 2024 list saw a few shifts from last year’s safest destinations, with Canada breaking into the top five and taking the lead spot as the safest destination. Each of last year’s top three destinations – Netherlands, Denmark and Iceland – dropped out of the top three this year, but all remained in the top 10. The list of safest cities also saw a few shake ups with Honolulu making it into the top 10 cities and securing the number one spot.
While the list has traditionally been dominated by Scandinavian nations, Northern Europe and English-speaking countries in Oceania, this year noted Asian and South American nations in the Top 15, with Japan and Brazil making the list.
BHTP’s State of Travel Insurance research has been conducted each fall since 2016 by Polymath Research + Marketing, using independent national panels surveying thousands of consumers on future expectations in travel insurance and travel habits. The lists of the world’s safest countries and cities were created using an index that synthesizes results from multiple sources, including the U.S. State Department, the British financial magazine The Economist, safety-app creator GeoSure Global, Vision of Humanity, Numbeo, and Global Finance magazine. Past rankings also are factored in.
Click here to read more on the safest cities ranking and here to read more on safest countries. To request a full report, members of the media can email the contact below.
About the State of Travel Insurance
State of Travel Insurance (SOTI), a joint project of Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) and Polymath Research + Marketing (PRM), is the longest-running and most trusted research project tracking U.S. travelers’ attitudes toward travel safety and travel insurance. SOTI has been conducted since 2016, and continues to provide category-leading research on key travel issues. This year’s survey involved a total of 1,702 travelers who were surveyed by PRM from August 24 to September 13, 2023.
About Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) is a registered trademark and a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, a leader in specialized casualty and liability insurance. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company provides underwriting and claims administration services for some of the largest distributors of travel insurance in the United States. Created under the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection trade name is the ExactCare® line of travel insurance, AirCare® flight, WaveCare®, AdrenalineCare®, LuxuryCare® and other travel-related protections. The AirCare® and ExactCare® products are provided by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. Visit bhtp.com for more information.
About Polymath Research + Marketing
Polymath Research + Marketing is a full-service market-research and marketing agency that specializes in crafting custom research and content to help organizations reach their business and marketing goals. PRM currently services firms in the insurance, travel, sports, and manufacturing industries, and provides research and content support to several top agencies. To learn more visit www.polymathpower.com.
