Riskline Travel Risk Map 2027: 21 destinations change risk rating

Female and LGBTQ travellers face markedly different safety challenges around the world, underlining why country-level risk ratings alone are insufficient for businesses managing international travel, according to Riskline’s latest annual assessment.

The Riskline Travel Risk Map 2027 identifies changes in 21 destination classifications compared with 2026, with Bangladesh, Cameroon, the Maldives, and El Salvador recording improvements.

Estonia, Denmark, and Austria are among the destinations considered safest for female travellers, while Afghanistan, Haiti, and India present the most challenges. For LGBTQ travellers, Iceland, Norway, and Thailand feature among the safest destinations, while Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Brunei are identified as less safe.

These differences reflect how local laws, cultural attitudes, and individual circumstances can create risks that are not necessarily captured by a destination’s overall security classification.

“Blanket travel bans are rarely the right answer. This year showed how quickly conditions can change, so a fixed list of places to avoid is no longer enough. For 2027, organisations should look at each trip individually and ask whether that traveller, at that time, can go ahead with the right preparation,” said Adam Schrader, Riskline’s Director of Operations.

The wider geopolitical picture remains challenging. Conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the US drove significant changes to risk levels across the Middle East in 2026, while the Russia-Ukraine war contributed to increased ratings for the Baltic states and Romania.

Looking ahead, political transitions, elections, youth-led protests, and regional conflicts are expected to shape travel security in 2027.