I'm an American living in the Philippines. The dangerous areas are dangerous for all foreigners. Kidnappings are a method for making money. The kidnappers don't care what nationality you are, they're only interested in what funds they could get from snagging you.

There are lots of other areas which aren't considered dangerous, but places in which you could still run across rebel groups. They are the same smiling locals you'll find anywhere else, just with guns and a cause. Flip them some coin for the revolution, maybe buy a bottle of Tanduay and you'll be fine.

Or dangerous for people in general. The list seems to favor cost of living over all else. Personally, I would some other factor as the overriding one, perhaps https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index

If you're an American concerned about Trump I'm not sure Duterte is a great alternative in the Philippines.

I have lived almost all of my childhood in Muscat, Oman. I went to visit Oman some years back which was very nostalgic. I still felt very welcomed there, met shopkeepers & my neighbors who instantly recognized the grow up me.

PS: I am not an American nor European.

I fail to see how Oman and especially the capital Muscat is dangerous. This is the one country where I've felt safest, and its safety is the reason for it being a very popular destination for wild camping.

> they can also be very dangerous for Americans

Evidence?

In Philippines and Columbia, kidnapping for ransom is still a thing in certain areas, particularly of "rich" westerners.

Yeah, seriously. Oman? It's like Middle East-Lite.

I would always suggest checking with your country's foreign travel advisories before planning a trip. It doesn't mean you shouldn't go, but you should at least be educated beforehand. For the record, both the warnings from the UK and the US seem equally concerning.

From the UK government on Oman [1]

>Attacks in Oman are likely. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

>Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region. These include references to attacks on western interests, including residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests as well as crowded places, including restaurants, hotels, beaches, shopping centres and mosques. You should maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places.

From the US government on Oman [2]

>Potential for Terrorist Activity: To date, there have been no terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens in Oman. Regionally, terrorists continue to target U.S. interests in the Middle East and North Africa. Please review the Worldwide Caution before traveling.

>Safety Precautions:

>Avoid public demonstrations and large gatherings.

>Monitor local media broadcasts and consular messages.

>Vary travel routes and times when possible.

>Report security concerns to Omani police and the U.S. Embassy.

From the UK government on the Philippines [3]

>There is a high threat from terrorism throughout the country. Terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and have the capacity and the intent to carry out attacks at anytime and anywhere in the country. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners like airports, shopping malls, public transport and places of worship.

From the US government on the Philippines [4]

>U.S. citizens contemplating travel to the Philippines should carefully consider the risks to their safety and security while there, including the risk of terrorism. Separatist and terrorist groups continue to carry out attacks and kidnappings in the areas of the Sulu Archipelago, the southern Sulu Sea, and the region of Mindanao. Kidnap-for-ransom gangs have targeted foreigners in the Philippines, including Philippine-Americans. For further information, see the Travel Warning for the Philippines.

[1] - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/oman/terrorism

[2] - https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/oman.h...

[3] - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/philippines/terrori...

[4] - https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/philip...

In any of those countries you're more than a hundred times more likely to get run over by a car, accidentally ingest something poisonous, trip over your own feet and break your neck, or die from a myriad of other causes before you'll die because of terrorist attack.

Warning against terrorist attacks without also providing a list of poisonous things, explaining cultural differences in driving behavior or reminding you to wear practical footwear that won't make you trip over your own feet seems incredibly misguided to me.

It isn't about the ultimate odds, it is about the change in odds. I'm no more likely to slip and break my next in Oman than I am in my backyard. Driving is certainly one thing than can be more dangerous abroad, but if you click through the links I provided you will see it mentioned. Those sites are resources on much more than terrorism.

The reason I only copied highlights from the terrorism sections is because the original comment was regarding the targeting of Americans due to current political climates. I don't think the indigenous poisonous flora and fauna are targeting Americans for their politics.