One of the worlds most dangerous countries is still attracting tourists despite safety warnings in dark tourism trend

For years, this country has been deemed one of the most dangerous places to travel — yet tourists keep coming.Libya, located in North Africa, has struggled through decades of unrest after NATO-backed forces assassinated dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Since then, the battle to take power has raged on between rival groups from the east and west of the country.The fighting has led many countries to label the country unsafe for tourists to visit, but that hasn’t stopped some bold adventurers from joining the “danger tourism” or “dark tourism” trend.The US has issued a Level 4 — the highest — travel advisory against traveling to Libya, warning of “crime, terrorism, unexploded landmines, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.” The UK government also “advises against all travel” to the African country.

However, Libya attracts close to 100,000 international tourists every year, Travel and Tour World reported.Recent developments and possible stabilization have pushed some places, like India, to ease their travel restrictions and some travelers claim to have visited Libya without any anxiety or issues.

“We felt safe the whole time there,” said Hudson and Emily, content creators who visited Libya in 2024, said.The couple traveled with a bodyguard who was “very serious about his job” and even went into the bathrooms with them.

Despite the extra precaution, they enjoyed their time in the African country, admiring the ancient ruins and UNESCO World Heritage sites of Leptis Magna, the “beautiful” city of Tripoli and the “super friendly people.” But that doesn’t mean it’s a safe spot.Last May, a British tourist was held for seven hours at gunpoint at an army checkpoint in Libya.

Daniel Pinto, 26, arrived in the country on May 29, 2024, and spent 21 days traveling — because it was a “mysterious” place he wanted to see.He describes himself as a “danger tourist” and has previously been to Iran, Iraq and Syria.

But this ti...