2) Brazil
The culture, beaches and jungles of Brazil are a huge draw for tourists, but some areas require a high level of caution. Many cities see numerous incidents of crime, including Rio De Janeiro with its high levels of armed robbery and theft, especially at night. The surrounding impoverished slums, known as favelas, on the hillsides can also be dangerous. Some of them have little to no police presence and are run by gangs. Others have been pacified by bringing in a permanent police presence, but economic unrest and abuses by the police mean they can still carry higher risks. Movies like “City of God” have made the images of the favela as famous as the beaches and now tourists can take bus tours to see some of the pacified ones, a controversial practice both for safety reasons and the potentially “dehumanizing” effect on the residents.
