Canada has been designated as the most secure travel destination in 2024, according to a ranking by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. A year ago, Canada held the sixth position, but this year it surged to the top, surpassing Switzerland and Norway.

In their announcement blog post, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection noted that, based on years of assessment, travelers consistently perceive Canada, Northern Europe, Australia, and New Zealand as highly safe locations.

The attributed factors for Canada’s top placement include “cold weather and low population density.” However, they cautioned about natural disasters like “wildfires.” Quoting Gap Year Travel Store, they highlighted Canada as an exceptionally safe destination with low levels of violent crime and gun-related incidents.

BHTP defined a safe place as one “free of terrorist activity,” then expanded it to include safety from disease outbreaks, and ultimately, a place where people can move freely without discrimination or harassment.

The post emphasized that the list is not predictive, acknowledging that Canada’s safety status may change over time. It also clarified that the ranking doesn’t apply uniformly across the entire country, citing differences between urban areas like Toronto and more remote regions such as northern Quebec, where wildfires could pose a risk, especially during the spring and summer seasons.